Germany eyes tens of thousands more recruits as NATO strengthens defenses

BERLIN — Germany is stepping up its push to recruit tens of thousands more soldiers as NATO allies strengthen defenses and Berlin commits billions to modernize the Bundeswehr after years of neglect. The government aims to raise active-duty personnel to about 260,000 and to field around 200,000 reservists over the next decade, a response to perceived threats from Moscow and the need to bolster deterrence on Europe’s eastern flank.

Three-and-a-half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany's effort has grown alongside a broader alliance push to lift personnel and equipment. Berlin has financed the modernization through a 100 billion-euro fund established in 2022, with higher spending now possible after coalition measures loosened debt rules. The challenge, defense experts say, rests in fixing longstanding equipment shortfalls while expanding the ranks. A force that lacks enough tanks, ships and barracks is not attractive to volunteers. Drenched in a history that complicates public attitudes toward conscription, Germany has pursued a policy of professional volunteer service for more than a decade.

Earlier this month, officials observed as a ferry packed with armored vehicles departed Rostock for deployment in Lithuania; drones were intercepted in the air and on the water, and fighter jets circled overhead. The drill illustrated a shifting reality: Berlin is stationing a brigade abroad on a long-term basis for the first time to bolster deterrence on NATO's eastern flank. "Credible deterrence requires operational readiness," said the Bundeswehr’s chief of staff, Gen. Carsten Breuer, "and operational readiness requires matériel, personnel, training and ... exercising, exercising, exercising."

To address manpower, Berlin unveiled a plan for a new military service system designed to attract recruits without reviving conscription. In a first step beginning next year, questionnaires will be sent to young people turning 18 about willingness and ability to serve; starting mid-2027, young men will undergo medical examinations, though enrollment is not yet required. Defense policy expert Thomas Wiegold described the approach as laying groundwork for the possibility of conscription while avoiding immediate compulsory service; "It is now gradually being built up again." Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that "because of its size and its economic strength, Germany is the country that must have the strongest conventional army in NATO on the European side." Bundeswehr chief Breuer added: "Credible deterrence requires operational readiness. And operational readiness requires matériel, personnel, training and ... exercising, exercising, exercising."

Some members of Merz's conservative bloc remain skeptical that growth can come entirely through voluntary service. Col. André Wüstner, head of the BundeswehrVerband, told German public television that "we must not suggest to people in this country that this growth will certainly happen voluntarily — I strongly doubt that." Wiegold noted that Germany's modern era has cultivated a different view of the military than Britain, France or the United States, and there is "no great enthusiasm" to join. But the invasion of Ukraine has raised the perceived importance of the Bundeswehr as a pillar of national security, and authorities have worked to raise esteem for military service. Ads exhorting people to consider joining the military have appeared on pizza boxes, kebab wrappers and elsewhere. The Bundeswehr has sent personalized postcards to 16- and 17-year-olds pointing to career opportunities, and its social media presence includes a "Bundeswehr career" channel on TikTok. In June, Germany marked an annual Veterans’ Day for the first time. Recruits are being honored with swearing-in ceremonies in prominent places — most recently outside the regional parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, the country’s most populous state. One newly trained recruit in Düsseldorf, Lina, 21, said that the world is "getting ever more tense" and asked, "if no one goes into this service, who will do it?" Another, Vincent, 26, said he wanted to contribute to the defense of Germany and its European allies, adding, "and I can’t say that’s important and not do something for it myself."

A parallel push targets infrastructure and housing: a government program to upgrade military barracks and facilities has faced years of underfunding, with a parliamentary report this year describing some remaining barracks in a "disastrous" state. A plan to build 76 new military buildings by 2031 is underway, part of a broader effort to improve living and working conditions for soldiers and thereby boost recruitment and retention.

Policy-makers have also wrestled with how to balance a growing defense establishment with Germany’s political traditions. The Cabinet last month approved plans for a new military service system meant to tackle the personnel challenge, emphasizing better pay, more flexible service terms and stronger training. Officials say the reforms are designed to attract sufficient volunteers without reviving conscription, though the door remains open to conscription if necessary and if recruitment shortfalls persist. The plan has drawn skepticism among some coalition partners, who argue against reintroducing compulsory service in the near term. Still, authorities stress that the current environment has shifted dramatically since the postwar era, with Ukraine intensifying the national debate over Germany’s role in collective defense.

The overall effort reflects a broader shift in Germany’s security posture: after years of reticence about military power, the country is trying to rebuild an armed force capable of sustaining high-intensity operations in alliance with NATO partners. As Berlin navigates the political, logistical and cultural hurdles, it faces a central question: can a modern, well-equipped Bundeswehr attract enough personnel to meet its ambitious goals without reactivating compulsory service? The coming years will show how far recruitment efforts, modernization timelines and public attitudes align with a Germany that has pledged to be a more capable and reliable member of the transatlantic alliance.