Germany has initiated a sweeping new military service scheme, legally obliging every male citizen to engage with the armed forces upon turning 18. This significant policy shift, approved by the government in December 2025, is a direct response to heightened security anxieties following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and concerns within NATO about a potential confrontation.
The Compulsory Questionnaire: Details and Demands
From this week, the German army, the Bundeswehr, will begin sending out a mandatory 14-question survey to tens of thousands of teenagers each month. Ignoring this form is not an option, with young men facing fines of up to €1,000 (approximately £800) if they refuse to complete it or repeatedly ignore follow-up demands.
The survey probes deeply into personal readiness and capability. Respondents must rate their willingness to serve on a scale of one to ten, indicate their availability, and disclose any disabilities. It also requires basic personal information, including weight, age, qualifications, and language skills, alongside a blunt self-assessment of physical fitness.
Beyond Paperwork: Medical Exams and Enforcement
The process extends far beyond initial paperwork. From July 2027, all male 18-year-olds will be legally required to attend a military medical examination to officially assess their fitness for service. In a striking escalation of enforcement, the German defence ministry has confirmed that the army can call upon police to compel attendance for those who repeatedly refuse to show up for this exam.
While the government insists the scheme falls short of full conscription, critics argue the questionnaire, which outlines potential career paths in the army, navy, air force, cyber security, and logistics, feels more like an active recruitment drive than a simple data-gathering exercise.
A Dramatic Shift in German Defence Posture
These measures mark a dramatic reversal for a nation that suspended compulsory military service in 2011. The explicit link to the war in Ukraine and fears of a wider European conflict underscores a fundamental change in Berlin's strategic thinking. Although women are not compelled to participate, they may complete the survey voluntarily if interested in a military career.
With the defence ministry planning to dispatch around 54,000 surveys monthly from January, the scale of the operation is vast. This move signals that Germany is quietly but systematically preparing its next generation for the possibility of war, recalibrating its societal approach to national defence in an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape.
