German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a ceremony to address members of Germany’s 45th Armoured Brigade (Panzerbrigade 45) of the Bundeswehr at a ceremonial roll-call on May 22, 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Paulius Peleckis/Getty Images
The German Cabinet approved plans on Aug. 27 for a new voluntary military service system, in an attempt to boost numbers in the armed forces, and has laid the ground for reintroducing conscription.
The draft bill would introduce a new form of voluntary military service, but the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that if it failed to meet recruitment targets, conscription could be reintroduced.
