In a move that signals a dramatic shift in both policy and national identity, Germany is preparing to overhaul its military, aiming to build the strongest army in Europe by 2035. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office earlier this year, has put defense at the core of his agenda, responding to mounting concerns over Russian aggression, shifting U.S. foreign policy, and a changing European security landscape. The ambitious reforms, backed by a new bill from the coalition government, seek to reverse decades of military neglect and pacifism that have defined postwar German attitudes toward armed forces.
The scale of the proposed transformation is formidable. According to CNN and Die Welt, the government’s plan is to boost the number of active Bundeswehr soldiers from about 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035, alongside an additional 200,000 reservists. This would mark a historic expansion and modernization of Germany’s military capacity, with the stated goal of making it the most formidable conventional force on the continent.
The immediate approach is to entice young Germans through voluntary enlistment, sweetened by a significant pay increase—a starting monthly salary of €2,600 ($3,000), which is €450 higher than before. The government hopes these incentives, coupled with a campaign to improve the military’s image, will help fill the ranks without resorting to compulsory measures. But if these targets aren’t met, the law retains the option to mandate service, a prospect that has stirred both public debate and political controversy.
Beginning in 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire gauging their interest in military service, with responses required from males. By 2027, men turning 18 will also need to undergo mandatory medical examinations. These steps, as BBC and Telegrafi report, are designed to streamline recruitment and ensure readiness, but also reflect the government’s willingness to escalate from voluntary to compulsory service if necessary.
“There is no reason for concern, no reason for fear,” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after the deal was announced, as quoted by CNN. “The more capable our armed forces are of deterrence and protection, through armament, training and personnel, the less likely we are to be drawn into a conflict.” Pistorius also suggested that Germany’s new approach could serve as a model for other European allies, noting, “Everybody is watching what we are doing. Our new model of conscription is quite modern. It is very modern. And it might be able to be an example for other countries too? I don’t know, but it might be.”
The reforms come at a time of heightened anxiety across Europe. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the continent has been forced to reckon with the reality of war on its borders. The Trump administration’s repeated calls for Europe to shoulder more of its own defense burden have only added to the urgency. Germany’s chief of defense, General Carsten Breuer, underscored the stakes in a June interview with the BBC, warning that NATO should prepare for a possible Russian attack within the next four years—possibly as soon as 2029.
Experts believe Germany’s central geography and economic might give it a unique role in European defense. Minna Ålander, an associate fellow at Chatham House, told CNN, “If the plans to reach the new personnel numbers materialise, it will be great for Europe, but that will likely be sometime in the 2030s.” She added, “Whether this is soon enough remains to be seen.” Ålander also speculated that if the government and armed forces manage to shift public perceptions and normalize military service, voluntary recruitment alone could suffice. However, she cautioned, “My concern is that if an obligatory military service is imposed on a skeptical population, it could push more young people to the extreme right and extreme left.”
The question of whether to reintroduce conscription has deeply divided German society, especially on the political left. A Forsa poll published by Die Welt in October—before the reforms were announced—showed that 80% of voters for Germany’s left-wing Die Linke party were opposed to any kind of mandatory service. Many young people interviewed by CNN and Telegraph expressed support for a strong national defense but were reluctant to personally serve, citing concerns about education, career plans, and a general aversion to war. “Of course it’s important to be able to defend ourselves. But that’s why we’re in the NATO alliance. … I love Germany. I wouldn’t say I want to fight for this country now. … I have a different life in mind than being at war,” one 17-year-old told CNN. Another, Leonid Bekjarov, 21, voiced support for increased investment in the military but opposed compulsory service: “It has become so soft and has been neglected. … I also think it’s terrible that (Russia) attacked Ukraine. But I am absolutely against war, and a little strengthening of the military is a good thing – funds have already been allocated for this – but now compulsory military service for everyone and having to go there, I think that’s wrong.”
Official figures reflect this ambivalence. Applications for conscientious objector status have surged since the war in Ukraine began and as discussions of renewed conscription have intensified. Between January and late October this year, more than 3,000 young Germans applied for such status—the highest number since conscription was suspended in 2011.
Germany’s Bundeswehr has long struggled with underfunding and outdated equipment. For three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, military spending consistently fell below NATO’s 2% of GDP target, as the country grappled with the legacy of its militarist past and embraced a pacifist ethos. That changed dramatically after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a “Zeitenwende”—a period of change—alongside a €100 billion ($116 billion) special fund to modernize the armed forces, as reported by CNN and BBC.
Symbolically, Germany marked its first formal Veteran’s Day on June 15, 2024, with new legislation ensuring the day will be publicly celebrated every year. This move, while modest on the surface, reflects a broader cultural shift toward embracing the military as a source of national pride and security, rather than discomfort or shame.
Chancellor Merz has been unequivocal in his rhetoric, arguing that only a robust military can deter aggression. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin only understands the language of power,” he said earlier this year, according to Telegraph. Merz has also pledged to double defense spending to meet NATO objectives, a commitment that will require both political will and public support in the years ahead.
The proposed bill still awaits approval from the Bundestag, with a vote expected by the end of 2025. If passed, the reforms could take effect as soon as January 1, 2026. Yet, with public opinion divided and Europe’s security environment in flux, the path to a stronger German military is anything but assured. The coming years will test not just Germany’s capacity to build up its armed forces, but also its ability to reconcile the demands of security with the values of a new generation.
