BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s leaders on Wednesday launched a drive to attract more people into voluntary military service as the country scrambles to strengthen its armed forces in the face of growing fears about Russian aggression, a project that some in the governing coalition say doesn’t go far enough.
Germany, a leading NATO and European Union member, has moved to modernize its long-neglected military since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That year, it set up a 100 billion euro ($117 billion) special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr, much of which has been committed to procuring new equipment.
New Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition this year pushed plans through parliament to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict rules on incurring debt. Merz has said repeatedly he wants the Bundeswehr to be “the strongest conventional army in Europe.”
The government is redoubling its efforts to attract more recruits, which the military struggled to do in recent years. Germany had some 181,000 active servicepeople at the end of last year. But the government says it needs to increase that in the long term to 260,000, plus some 200,000 reservists.
“The Bundeswehr must grow – the international security situation, above all Russia’s aggressive behavior, make this necessary,” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday. “We need not just well-equipped forces, we are going at full speed on that … we also need a Bundeswehr that is strong in terms of personnel. Only then is deterrence toward Russia really credible.” more
They’d better make a rule that smegma is an automatic rejection!
build it up at night when the ruskies wont see what you’re doing. that’s the ticket. 👍👌
We’re NOT coming to save your asses this time.
If he wants to build up his military, he should emulate our president; show pride in your country, speak of its virtues, and the goodness of its people, demonstrate, both in words and deeds that you value your nation and would fight for it, the people should value it as well.
I don’t know anything about this chancellor, and maybe I’m asking too much since there is only one Trump, but the people are thirsty for leadership, it doesn’t seem that hard to inspire patriotism if you believe in it.
https://youtu.be/SDuHXTG3uyY?si=tJgUscg1SmuDrpC0
All the young Leftists of Military Service age refuse to enlist because they refuse to fight to protect their Country.
I recall Vietnam and the draft and lost souls wasted and half wasted. https://youtu.be/TThjY_qlEfg
They will be able to avoid having a draft, because all of those Syrian refugees are so grateful for their new home in Germany that they’ll volunteer in droves for the Bundesw——-I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep a straight face lolol
Germany hasn’t been motivated – much less able – to protect themselves from hundreds of thousands of medieval savage invaders armed with nothing but knives, mobile phones, and NGO lawyers. How can they expect to defend themselves from even an imaginary Russian invasion?
I’m just as glad that I’m not over there right now.
I’m a US citizen, but born in Germany.
I’m afraid that if I were over there now, even as old as I am, the Bundes would attempt to twist/create a new law and impress me into the Army, like it or not.
(whew!)
Grey Feather, nobody liked the draft among the baby boomer generation. I caught the last draft in 1972 when I was 19 and I had a low draft number and didn’t want to be drafted so I volunteered for the Navy on August 31, 1972, 53 years ago this Sunday. Nixon ended the draft just before the 72-election while I was in boot camp down in San Diego. I wasn’t happy about it at the time but was glad that I volunteered. The 3 years that I spent in the Navy at the end of the Vietnam war from 1972-75 were the best 3 years of my young life and I’m proud to have served. I was the only one who served in the military in my generation, none of my 3 younger brothers had to serve because the draft was over by the time they graduated from HS from 1972-76.
Geoff- I was on the Draft list in 1970, then drew a high number when the lottery came along shortly after. There are times when I wish I had been in the military, but Vietnam was a dark cloud then that few wanted to be a part of. Had I been drafted I would not have refused as some people suggested.
MY dad talked me out of joining the Navy in 1971 right after I graduated from HS. He took me to lunch at the A&W next door to his gas station and told me to wait for another year. Vietnam was still hot and heavy in 71 even though our involvement in it was winding down. He’d been in USAF between World War 2 and the Korean war and barely missed having to stay in the Air Force just before the Korean war started in June 1950. It was the best advice that he gave me as it gave me another yr. before the govt. gave me a low draft number. #! in 1972 was on March 6th 2 days after my 19th birthday. I would have made the world’s fastest beeline to the Navy recruiter if I had been picked #1 in 72. The draft lottery was the only lottery that I ever won and that’s not the lottery any young man of draft age wants to win.