Study for a semester at a foreign university or backpack in Asia for six months? German men who choose this will from now on first have to ask permission from the German army. At least that is what the revised conscription law states: it stipulates that men between the ages of 17 and 45 must inform the Bundeswehr career center if they are abroad for more than three months.
The revised military service law has been in effect since the beginning of this year, but the approval requirement for foreign travel remained out of the public eye until the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau here last Friday reported about. An army spokesman speaks to German media of a “major change”, but emphasizes that as long as military service remains voluntary, permission will in principle be granted.
With the new conscription law, the government wants the number of soldiers to increase from around 182,000 now to 260,000 in 2035. Although serving in the army remains voluntary, all German men receive a mandatory questionnaire in which they must indicate whether they want to join the army. In addition, every German man must undergo a medical examination by the army.
The obligation to approve has existed since the Cold War, but until the recent change in the law only applied in exceptional situations: if another country threatens to invade the Federal Republic, for example. With the change in the law, the approval obligation also applies outside times of crisis.
‘Infringement of right of self-determination’
Frankfurter Rundschau speaks of an “infringement on the right to self-determination”. A mandatory visit to the career advice center of the German armed forces also applies if, for example, someone wants to work abroad or travel around the world.
An army spokesperson told the newspaper that measures are being taken to “clarify” that the permit is always granted as long as conscription remains voluntary. We are also working on exception options. The aim is a “reliable and informative” military register. “In case of emergency, we need to know who might be staying abroad for a longer period of time.”
The Bundeswehr cannot explain to German media what will happen if someone does not report their trip or does not receive permission. The armed forces also do not want to say how often a permit for a foreign trip has actually been applied for since the beginning of this year.
Draw
The new conscription law fits within Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s goal of building the “largest conventional army in Europe.” Now that the United States sees Europe less and less as an ally, he wants to use “all financial resources” to strengthen the German army, Merz has emphasized since he took office in May 2025.
Yet the number of soldiers lags behind this ambition. From the one published last March annual report The army shows that 25,000 new recruits were recruited last year. That is more than in previous years, but not enough to achieve the objectives. Moreover, a fifth of recruits drop out.
If enough professional soldiers cannot be recruited, the new law makes a form of coercion possible. With the consent of the Bundestag, drawing of lots can be done. Men who have been selected are then obliged to serve until the required number of soldiers is reached.
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