German army invites nearly 200,000 young people to join

The effort is part of a campaign to boost the country’s military ranks due to the ‘Russian threat’

The German Armed Forces have said they sent tens of thousands of young people a questionnaire on joining the military. Every 18-year-old male is obliged to fill it out and register for potential military service under a new law.

Around 194,000 young people received a letter from the military with the questionnaire between January 15 and April 24, a spokesperson for the armed forces told KNA news agency following a request. A spokeswoman for the Defense Ministry said it has “no reliable” data on the responses yet.

The questionnaire asks for personal data, including physical condition, health, and education, and whether they would like to join the army. Those who show interest are asked to choose their preferred branch and potential duration of service, from six months to more than six years.

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Women can also fill out the form but are not required to under the Military Service Modernization Act adopted late last year. The legislation is part of an effort by Berlin to boost the military ranks from 186,000 troops to 260,000, plus 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s. German officials have discussed the need to grow the military since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, citing the supposed “Russian threat.”

President Vladimir Putin has dismissed speculation that Russia harbors aggressive intentions against NATO countries as “nonsense.”

Some German politicians, including the head of the state of Bavaria, Markus Soder, have argued for the reinstatement of the draft. The government’s plans have drawn criticism from young people, with thousands of students taking to the streets of Berlin to protest in early March.