Overview
- The Bundestag passed the Wehrdienst reform and the Bundesrat is due to consider it before Christmas, with the law set to take effect on January 1, 2026 if approved.
- Men turning 18 must complete a readiness questionnaire sent to the 2008 cohort, with nonresponse or false information treated as an administrative offense subject to fines.
- The questionnaire collects data on personal details, education, physical metrics, self‑assessed fitness, disabilities, and prior foreign service, and it can be submitted online or in writing.
- Mandatory medical screening for men will be phased in as capacity is built, with the Defence Ministry planning 24 Musterung centers and targeting completion by mid‑2027.
- Voluntary service runs at least six months with a €2,600 gross monthly base from day one; Berlin aims for about 20,000 volunteers in 2026 and roughly 40,000 by 2030, with a possible Bundestag decision on need‑based conscription if targets are missed as applications and interest trend higher nationwide and in Saxony.