ConflictsGermany
Germany debates return to compulsory military service

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Silja Fröhlich in Bonn
Published September 13, 2025last updated September 13, 2025Advertisement
Germany is rethinking its military strategy amid rising geopolitical tensions.
A new draft law aims to boostBundeswehr troop numbers by surveying 18-year-olds — mandatory for men, voluntary for women.
Students at Bonn’s Ernst-Kalkuhl-Gymnasium share mixed views: some support conscription for national security, others call for gender-neutral policies and alternatives like social service.
The debate reflects changing attitudes among Germany’s youth.