Germany is drafting a military recruit law

Germany is planning a law that would reactivate military recruiting if there are shortage of volunteers. The goal is to increase the number of soldiers to 260,000 and secure 200,000 militias.

Germany is drafting a new law to regulate the concept of military service. In addition to provisions for better wages and the obligation to provide more comfortable accommodation to soldiers, the new provision includes a provision on military service. But, as German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) explains, this part should be activated only if there are not enough volunteers. This idea is supported by Union politicians (CDU/CSU).

The CSU coalition agreement, CSU and SPD say that “will create a new attractive military service, which will initially be voluntary”. The law being drafted, the Social Democrat said in the ARD public service programme, still envisions another possibility -- namely, the obligation of service.

Bundeswehri, explains Pistorius, needs about 60,000 additional active soldiers. First of all, there is a need to attract young people from drivers to college graduates who want to spend a little longer in uniform.

The long-term goal is to build a 200,000 reserve force. Actually, it's half this number. If there are not enough volunteers, military recruits could also be introduced, reports DW, Periscope broadcast.

Automatic military service

There is also the possibility that other rules in the new law will be envisioned if there are not enough volunteers. The minister says these measures are necessary.

But Pistorius claims that at this moment he cannot make a final decision whether such a law providing for recruiting will be accepted. However, he believes it will be so.

The bill should be discussed in the German government before the summer break, and then adopted. Even among the Pistorius Social Democrats do not all agree with the introduction of military service, with the preliminary definition “in case of”.

Parliamentary Group Chairman Matthias Miersch thinks the recruiting can be discussed “as soon as possible in the upcoming election period”, but SPD head and deputy cascerre Lars Klingbeil think the time has come to prepare for possible recruiting returns.

Pistorius first wants to make Bundeswehri more attractive to the 18-year-old volunteers will be contacted by mail. Young men have to answer to the questionnaire they receive while girls can do it, but they are not obliged.

In this way, they hope to attract as many recruits as Bundeswehri can train and place in the barracks currently. Pistorius wants to increase the number of armed forces from 180,000 now to 250,000 to 260,000 soldiers. Construction of new military facilities is also planned.

“We cannot defend ourselves with questionnaire”

Pistorius said that if the number of available seats in the barracks exceeds the number of volunteers, then other measures, where the government and parliament should act, could be enacted.

Like Pistorius, the head of Chancellor Thorsten Frey's Office (CDU) proposes a mechanism that would envision a transition to military service unless the object of recruiting is met. “We will discuss this in the coalition and try to reach a common consensus”, Frey told RTL and ntv.

Bravare Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has again called for the restoration of mandatory military service. On show Z. DF-Morgenmagazin, he stressed the threat from Russia. Sweden and Finland joined NATO last year because their territorial waters and airspace “challenged and repeatedly violated”. An assessment must be made: “How much time do we have? “We don't decide that, but the international situation requires it. ”

Söder welcomed a greater incentive for volunteer service. But if you want to protect the NATO border, if you want to protect the national border and if you really want to have the strongest army in Europe (...), then maybe it won't only be voluntary. ” /Periscopi/