Pistorius currently does not expect to return to compulsory military service

Bundeswehr personnel Pistorius does not currently expect to return to compulsory military service As of: November 7th, 2026 • 3:45 p.m

The reintroduction of compulsory military service does not seem necessary at this point in time. Defense Minister Pistorius reports a positive development among Bundeswehr personnel - top representatives of the Union see it differently.

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has expressed confidence that the Bundeswehr will be able to meet its personnel needs in the future without returning to compulsory military service.

The measures anchored in the new Military Service Modernization Act were effective; the Bundeswehr currently has around 190,000 soldiers, its highest level in 13 years, the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

"If the course continues, we won't have any growth problems." Then there should be “no discussion about compulsory military service, however it should be structured.”

Regarding the recent demonstrations by young adults, which were also directed against conscription, Pistorius said he had a lot of sympathy for the young people who had never had to deal with these issues and who were now worried about what might happen to them.

"But when people say at the demonstrations that we don't want to go to the front and die in the war, then I can only say: We want exactly the same thing." That's precisely why we need strong armed forces "that can act as a deterrent so that we don't end up in the situation of having to fight anywhere at all."

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There was criticism of the Defense Minister's statements from the Union. “Cautious optimism is ok, hasty statements are out of place,” said parliamentary group deputy Norbert Röttgen to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “With our first success, we are far from where we need to be. It’s the first five kilometers of a marathon,” said the CDU politician.

The chairman of the Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp (also CDU), also contradicted Pistorius. “It is crucial that the Bundeswehr achieves the personnel strength it needs for its tasks as quickly as possible,” he told the Stadt-Anzeiger. "If the voluntary nature of this is not enough, we will have to return to compulsory military service." The debate about this and about a general compulsory year of service is necessary “now”; the current security policy situation leaves “no leeway” when it comes to increasing personnel.

Bavaria's Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder wrote to X that investments in equipment and infrastructure and a significant acceleration of procurement were not enough. Germany is under greater threat than it has been for a long time. "That's why we have to further strengthen the Bundeswehr." If “our democracy is important to you, you have to stand up for it,” wrote Söder. That's why it's clear: "We need real conscription again."

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In an interview with the Funke media, Pistorius also announced new efforts to attract more women to serve in the Bundeswehr: In terms of numbers, the armed forces are a "boy's shop" and that will not be able to change any time soon.

Regarding the recent increase in the number of violations of sexual self-determination in the Bundeswehr, Pistorius said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that such incidents as we have unfortunately had recently are prevented as much as possible through good prevention." If such cases occur, they would be “punished decisively and uncompromisingly.”

Around 460 suspected cases last year did not seem to be many at first glance, given the size of the Bundeswehr, said Pistorius. But they caused great damage to those affected and brought the Bundeswehr into disrepute. Pistorius announced that he would present the results of a dark field study on this topic next week.

This topic in the program: NDR Info | News | Nov 7, 2026 | 7:05 a.m