In view of the Russian threat from the Ukraine war, a debate has broken out among members of the Bundestag about the introduction of general conscription.

The deputy CDU chairman Carsten Linnemann told the "Bild": "Personally, for years I have been campaigning for the introduction of a society year that is mandatory for young men and women after they have finished school."

"Such a service would not be limited to the Bundeswehr, but would also take into account the care and social sectors as well as THW, the fire brigade or clubs," Linnemann continued.

“That would strengthen our society’s resilience to crises.

Social skills are taught that are needed in these persistently difficult times.”

Support came from the deputy chairman of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Johann Wadephul (CDU).

"If this service is made financially attractive and concrete benefits such as accumulating pension points or easier access to study or training places are created, we have the opportunity to recruit many more staff," Wadephul told Welt.

"The Bundeswehr must be brought more into society," he said.

"Since the recent events at the latest, it must be clear to everyone that the Bundeswehr is a basic requirement for our lives, as it guarantees security and freedom."

Also SPD open to debate

The security expert of the SPD parliamentary group, Wolfgang Hellmich, told the "Rheinische Post": "We urgently need to have the debate about general compulsory service.

Because for that we need a social consensus.” In his view, compulsory service would “promote public spirit”.

At the same time, the SPD politician emphasized that the Bundeswehr must be made more attractive so that more young people would serve in the troops.

“We need a professionally equipped and active Bundeswehr.

We're way beyond general conscription there," said Hellmich.

The security policy spokeswoman for the Greens in the Bundestag, Sara Nanni, told the "Welt": "Anyone who invests in the Bundeswehr must of course first and foremost invest in the personnel.

It is the backbone of German defense policy.” The best advertising for the Bundeswehr is meaningful mandates and a good working environment.

"No PR video can cover up the word-of-mouth reports about the problems in the Bundeswehr."

Against the comeback of conscription

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl (SPD), rejected a mere reactivation of conscription.

According to the “Welt”, she spoke of a “theoretical discussion that does not help in the current situation”.

CSU defense expert Florian Hahn is also against such a step.

"We need technology and a weapon system and no heads," he told the "Bild".

The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann made a similar statement. On Monday evening she said in the ARD "Tagesthemen": "No, that's not part of it for us.

The Bundeswehr should become a modern, compact army with high-tech equipment and not equipment from the 1990s.”

Conscription was suspended because military justice no longer existed.

In addition, the corresponding infrastructure no longer exists today - and it would take years and billions to rebuild it.

With a view to the planned billions in investments in the Bundeswehr, Strack-Zimmermann said: "We have to take the money to modernize the Bundeswehr, to make the equipment, including the personal ones for soldiers, perfect." Then there are also young ones people willing to work for the troops.

Conscription was suspended in 2011 by the then Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) and replaced by so-called voluntary military service.

The idea of ​​general compulsory service was brought up in 2019 by former Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU).

The aim was for men and women to complete such a service as a compulsory year in the Bundeswehr, but also in nursing, the fire brigade or the technical relief organization.