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Soldiers from the 122nd Panzergrenadier Battalion practice with the machine gun
Photo: Daniel Löb / dpa
The coalition partners of the Social Democrats are in favor of a voluntary model following Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' proposal for military service.
Sara Nanni, defense policy spokeswoman for the Green Party, told SPIEGEL: “I also think a viable solution to the personnel problems by the end of the legislative period is desirable.
But compulsory military service is still not an option for me.
It would alienate the younger generations and lead to less rather than more acceptance of the troops in society.
We should continue to rely on voluntary action.”
The FDP is becoming even clearer.
"We liberals want an army of professionals, motivated, decently paid, who want to defend our country out of their own inner motivation," said Alexander Müller, defense policy spokesman for the Bundestag faction, to SPIEGEL.
"Compulsory military or service in peacetime is a severe interference with civil liberties, with professional freedom, and with one's own life planning, which is why we reject it." It cannot be done with the FDP in peacetime.
The Liberals definitely see a need for reform in some points, Müller continues.
However, modern weapon systems are already too complicated to be mastered professionally after just a few months.
"The days when you could win wars with masses of people who could barely handle an assault rifle are over."
Study trip to Scandinavia
According to SPIEGEL information, Pistorius has instructed his house to "present options for a German military service model that makes a scalable, threat-adapted contribution to national resilience by April 1st."
In the internal template available to SPIEGEL, it is clear that Pistorius wants to present his own proposal for a conscription model before the federal election.
“The Federal Minister intends to make a decision on compulsory military service during this legislative period,” says the introduction to the work order.
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Defense Minister Pistorius: “Directive decision on compulsory military service in this legislative period”
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
On Tuesday, Pistorius left for a business trip lasting several days to Scandinavia.
Among other things, he wants to find out more about the Swedish conscription model.
Compulsory military service has been in force there again since 2017, but in a different form than in Germany before the suspension.
In Sweden, all school leavers are mustered and the army then specifically targets men and women who are suitable for the troops.
In recent years, Sweden has been able to attract enough volunteers for the armed forces (read more about the extent to which the model could be transferred to Germany here.)
Pistorius himself commented cautiously on the report on Tuesday.
"The SPIEGEL is usually well informed, in this case it seems to be better informed than me," said the minister in Berlin.
It is true that he is dealing with the issue of compulsory military service, but also that he has “not yet made a preliminary decision.”
CDU politician Güler: “The Swedish model can certainly be a role model in some facets”
With a view to his trip, Pistorius made it clear that dealing with the issue of conscription would also be an issue on this trip.
“I have never made a secret of the fact that I have a soft spot for the Swedish model,” said the minister.
more on the subject
Internal template: Pistorius wants a “directional decision on compulsory military service” by 2025
"The Swedish model can certainly be a model for Germany in some facets, especially general military registration," said Serap Güler, CDU member of the Bundestag and defense expert, to SPIEGEL.
It is good that the Defense Minister is addressing the issue of compulsory service with vigor.
However, the Union continues to advocate for a “social year of society in which the Bundeswehr is one of many sponsors, but which, through its breadth, promotes resilience in society as a whole.”
Sahra Wagenknecht, now party leader of her own alliance, fundamentally rejects the move: "It's bad enough that the communications disaster in the Bundeswehr over the use of Taurus missiles has led to speculation in Russia about Germany entering the war.
The fact that Pistorius is now fueling such speculation with a discussion about the reintroduction of compulsory military service is more than just stupid," she told SPIEGEL.
»Instead of banishing young men to barracks for a valuable year of their life, we need a meaningful social year for everyone and a return to a foreign policy that returns to the tradition of restraint and détente and is committed to resolving military conflicts through diplomacy and negotiations finish."
The background to Wagenknecht's criticism is the publication by Russia of a recording of a meeting with senior Bundeswehr officers, including Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz.
The officers discussed operational scenarios for the Taurus cruise missile if Germany were to deliver it to Ukraine.
However, Chancellor Scholz has said several times in the past few days that he clearly rejects delivery of the cruise missile to Ukraine.
It can also be heard in the recording that there is no green light for the delivery at the political level.
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