As the debate over reinstating compulsory military service intensifies in Germany, a growing number of young citizens are taking formal steps to refuse armed service. Driven by new military recruitment strategies and the looming threat of conscription, applications for conscientious objection have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.
Phil Werring, a 12th-grade student from Münster, is among those firmly rejecting the prospect of military duty. As a spokesperson for the nationwide "School Strikes Against Conscription" initiative, the soon-to-be 18-year-old reflects the sentiments of many in his generation. "People always say it's about defense," Werring explained. "But I don't see this threat level, and therefore I have no interest in doing compulsory service in the Bundeswehr."
While military service is currently voluntary in Germany, military experts widely doubt that the Bundeswehr will organically attract the minimum 60,000 additional troops it needs in the coming years. Many young Germans, including Werring, believe the return of mandatory service is only a matter of time.
The anxiety is compounded by Germany's new military service law. Since the beginning of the year, the Bundeswehr has mandated that all young men around their 18th birthday complete a recruitment questionnaire. Respondents must rate their interest in volunteering as a soldier on a scale from zero to ten.
However, indicating "zero interest" does not exempt them from the process. Men born in 2008 and later are legally required to undergo a military medical examination (Musterung), regardless of their survey answers. While women can volunteer for service, only men are currently subject to these mandatory screenings.
Aggressive recruitment tactics, coupled with discussions of a potential Russian attack on NATO territory, have prompted many young men to preemptively seek conscientious objector status. Under Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the German Basic Law—a provision rooted in the country's experiences during the two World Wars and the Nazi dictatorship—no one can be forced to serve in armed combat against their conscience.
Since the suspension of conscription in 2011, objections had been rare. However, Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point. According to the Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions (BAFzA), applications hit a record high last year with 3,879 submissions. The trend is accelerating: by the end of February this year alone, nearly 2,000 applications had already been filed.
Filing a successful application requires careful preparation, leading to a surge in demand for advisory services. The German Peace Society – United War Resisters (DFG-VK) has established a nationwide network of over 200 volunteer counselors to assist applicants.
In Berlin, counselor Lothar Eberhardt conducts numerous interviews to help applicants articulate the core of their request: the personal moral justification for refusing war. "What is the moral dilemma and the individual trait of the person that has led them to say no to war?" Eberhardt noted, explaining his approach to helping individuals successfully navigate their constitutional right to object.
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