BERLIN, GERMANY – Germany required men aged 17 to 45 to obtain military approval before staying abroad for more than three months under a new defense law.
New law in force since 1 January
The Defence Ministry confirmed that the law to modernize military service had been in force since 1 January. Under the measure, German men between 17 and 45 years of age had to secure prior authorization if they wanted to live abroad for longer than three months, including in destinations such as Thailand.
According to the ministry, the notification obligation was intended to create a “reliable and efficient military register.” In an emergency, the Bundeswehr needed to know where eligible men were and for how long they would be staying abroad in order to mobilize more quickly in the event of a declared state of defense.
Old Cold War rule now applied in peacetime
A duty to report stays abroad had already existed in the 1956 conscription law, but it had previously been applied only in cases of mobilization or war. A legal amendment in December extended the scope of the rule to normal times, similar to measures used during the Cold War.
Under the current legal situation, applications for foreign stays were generally expected to be approved as a rule. It was still unclear what sanctions would apply in cases of violations, while authorities worked on exemptions intended to reduce bureaucracy for younger Germans.
Merz government plans major expansion of army
Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Germany pursued the goal of rebuilding its army into one of the strongest land forces in Europe. Plans called for troop strength to rise from about 180,000 soldiers at present to 260,000 by 2035.
Since January, questionnaires had been sent to all 18-year-olds to gauge their willingness to perform voluntary service in the Bundeswehr. From July 2027, these young people were also to appear for physical examinations to assess their suitability for service in the event of war.
Voluntary system for now, conscription still possible
For the time being, the system officially remained voluntary. However, the government did not rule out a return to mandatory conscription if the security situation continued to deteriorate.
Germany had suspended compulsory military service in 2011 under then chancellor Angela Merkel, but tightened its course again after Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine. The new measures formed part of this broader shift in security and defense policy.
Protests as young people reject military service
The steps met resistance among parts of the younger generation, leading to protests against the new direction. Organizers stated on social media that they did not want to spend a phase of their lives in barracks.
“To learn how to kill”
said unnamed organizers, adding that they rejected strict military discipline and the idea of training for war.