© WPA POOL/Getty ImagesNumber of German soldiers is declining
Both men and women could be called up to boost numbers in the armed forces.
Germany is considering introducing conscription for all 18-year-olds, as it looks to
boost its troop numbers in the face of Russian military aggression.
Military planners in Berlin are in the final stages of discussing
three options, two of which involve a form of conscription, according to leaked plans reported in the German media.
Boris Pistorius, the defence minister, is set to go public with the official plans by June.In one of the options being discussed, Germany would bring back
a compulsory military year for young men once they turn 18, which was suspended in 2011, and apply it to women as well. This would require a change to the German constitution, but is seen inside the ministry as
most likely to receive societal approval.
Another option would only apply to 18-year-old men, but would not see everyone selected. They would be required to fill in an online form and could then be chosen for service, according to details leaked to
Die Welt newspaper. This is seen by the defence ministry as
"a strong signal" to both allies and rivals.The third option would
avoid compulsory service, focusing instead on "optimising" the current system by engaging in
more proactive recruitment campaigns.However, Mr Pistorious is believed to be against that route. During a trip to Washington this week, he said: "I'm convinced that Germany needs a form of military conscription."
Its possible reintroduction comes as Germany's ageing society means the number of soldiers heading into retirement is outstripping the number of new recruits joining up to replace them.Meanwhile, Berlin has also set a target of raising the size of its armed forces from some 180,000 today to more than 200,000. The defence ministry is believed to be sceptical that this target can be met without some form of conscription.
Opposition within governmentMr Pistorius is likely to face considerable resistance to his plans from inside the German government, however.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has previously voiced his opposition to such a move, while ministers from junior coalition partners the Free Democrats and the Greens have also stated they would oppose it.Nonetheless, momentum for reintroducing conscription is growing.
At its party conference this week, the centre-Right
Christian Democrats (CDU), Germany's main opposition party, reversed its stance by voting for a motion to support the "reintroduction of conscription in a step-by-step process".
Mr Pistorius has signalled an openness to working across party lines, saying he was "pleased that the CDU is on a similar path to the one I have been working on".
Mr Pistorius, who polls regularly show to be the country's most popular politician, has previously described the decision to suspend conscription as "a mistake".
Oh how wrong once again - how WRONG the greens are - assuming there still are Germans out there who care about the place once called Germany.