The president of the country’s reserve association told RND Media Group that Germany needs to restart its military draft.
“Voluntary measures are not enough,” Patrick Sensburg said in a story published on Monday.
He said the number of soldiers is even declining due to population development and retirement. “So we should reactivate the recruitment,” Sensburg added.
Open female draft
Semburg also proposed an open referendum to announce whether women should also be subject to mandatory recruitment. “If most people agree with this, I can’t see how the Federal Building can avoid it,” he said.
Recruitment was suspended in 2011, but is still in the German Constitution. The Conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of the Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, can simply restore it.
Pistorius believes that another 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers are needed – Currently, Bundeswehr has just over 180,000 people.
In their alliance agreement, CDU/CSU and SPD agreed to the military service system “initially based on voluntary participation.” However, the CDU/CSU is quickly deciding whether the increase in the number of troops can be voluntarily achieved.
Karl-Heinz Banse, president of the German Firefighters Association, supports reactivate other civilian services along with recruitment.
“My advice: For example, anyone who doesn’t want to serve with weapons can commit to joining the volunteer brigade.”
