German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has announced his desire to push forward a planned reduction in the length of conscription for German soldiers.

A measure to reduce the time Bundeswehr soldiers serve from nine to six months is already scheduled to come into effect on January 1. According to statements made to German public broadcaster ARD, Guttenberg hopes to implement these changes before the end of this year.

In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Deputy Defense Minister Christian Schmidt said options are being considered that would "enable those who begin their conscription on October 1, 2010 [to] end it on March 31, 2011."

Guttenberg has also announced his intent to increase the number of soldiers called up from 40,000 to 50,000. To this end, the possibility of loosening the criteria for conscription would be examined, he told ARD.

mz/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Nancy Isenson