Could women in Germany soon be required to serve in the military?

On March 26, 2024, soldiers were seen participating in military exercises in Tangermunde, Germany. However, amidst the growing threat of war in Europe, Germany's defence minister believes that women should also be included in the country's conscription plans.

General Boris Pistorius has put forth a new proposal for compulsory national service in the event of a conflict, citing Russia's ongoing violence in Ukraine as a cause for concern. This comes more than a decade after Germany abolished national service, with the defence ministry now seeking to implement a "new military model" based on Sweden's gender-neutral conscription system.

Under this new model, all 18-year-old German men would be required to register for military service, but only 5,000 of the most suitable and motivated individuals would actually be called up. This approach is gaining traction among other European nations, especially NATO members, who are also considering reintroducing some form of conscription.

General Breuer has emphasized the need for gender equality, calling for women to be included in the conscription scheme. He believes that the current suspended military service, which only applies to men according to the constitution, should be revised to promote gender equality. However, he acknowledges that this will require a thorough discussion in politics and society.

The proposed military service would consist of six months of basic training, with the option for voluntary additional service of up to 17 months. While young men would be required to serve, women would have the option to sign up voluntarily.

The proposal still needs to be approved by the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, but it reflects a significant shift in societal and governmental attitudes. It comes on the heels of Denmark's recent announcement to conscript women for military service, making them one of the few countries to do so. Norway and Sweden have already implemented female conscription in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

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