Migliaia di giovani in Germania, di fronte al nuovo servizio militare: “Sembra che stia arrivando una guerra, e questo fa paura”.

TRANSLATION

Would you be willing to do military service? That is the question that, starting next year, all young Germans born in 2008 will face, and then each year those who reach adulthood. Turning 18 will come with the obligation to fill out a form with personal data and attend a medical exam in which the authorities will check the physical and psychological capacities of the young people. After that, they will decide whether to enlist or not; because, at least for now, the new German conscription system is voluntary. In any case, the government will already have an official military registry of all potential recruits.

“We have to prepare for a situation of tension or defense; we have to know where they live and where they can be located, just as was done before during the period of mandatory military service,” sources from the Ministry of Defense explain. The medical examination will be introduced gradually. At first it will be voluntary, and from mid-2027 it is expected to become compulsory. Germany is not the only country that wants to be prepared for a hypothetical war threat: Belgium and France have announced similar plans.

But can you imagine young people doing military service? “Under no circumstances would I do it, no matter how much they tried to recruit me. And if they forced me, I would try to be declared unfit for health reasons,” replies Pavel Khanukaev, currently 16. His friends feel the same way. Sheltered from the cold in a cafe in the central Berlin district of Mitte, they all seem very sure that they will never volunteer and that, if the system ever becomes mandatory, they will declare themselves conscientious objectors. Only Adrian Carrillo, about to turn 16, admits he would do it. “I’d do it if they forced me. It doesn’t directly mean I’m going to war. It would only be six months.”

Aljoscha Plath, 15, and Balduin Brussig, 16, are firmer. “I would apply to refuse to bear arms. It’s my right. It’s stated in Article 4 of the Constitution,” says Brussig, referring to the clause that states that “no one may be compelled to perform military service with weapons against their conscience.” In that case, they would have to carry out a substitute service in a civilian institution.

The four friends live in different parts of Berlin — Moabit, Lichtenberg and Friedrichshain — and attend schools in Lichtenberg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. But almost none of them know anyone willing to volunteer. “Everyone thinks it’s bad,” says Carrillo. “I only know a couple of people who would do it if it were mandatory,” adds Plath.

Khanukaev is the most activist of the four. He is part of the organizing committee at his school for a student strike against a possible mandatory military service, scheduled for December 5. “It’s a topic that occupies me almost daily at school, and we’ve had debates where I’ve found someone who defended mandatory service, so I imagine they would also be willing to do it voluntarily,” he says.

In a context of rising tension with Russia due to the war in Ukraine, Germany has promised to build the strongest army in Europe, and to do so it needs young people. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized last week that peace and freedom “are not free” and that defense is a task incumbent upon the whole society.

In this first phase, the new German military service is voluntary. But if too few volunteers come forward, the draft bill provides for the possibility of reactivating compulsory military service, which was suspended in 2011. This would require a new government decree and parliamentary approval. To avoid reaching that point, the government is trying to attract young people with a monthly salary of at least 2,600 euros gross.

But for this group of friends, money is not a motivation. “I don’t care how much they offer me, I will always be against it. You can’t promote war. It’s simply morally wrong,” criticizes Khanukaev. “What are you going to do with the money if, for example, in a war you die? Luckily we’re not at war right now, but if people are being asked to enlist more, it gives the feeling that a war is coming and that we’re heading into difficult times. That’s a bit scary,” reflects Brussig.

Carrillo believes the military is being promoted “as a way for poorer people to enlist,” which he finds wrong. “If the strategy is to attract people from poorer backgrounds to go to the front, it seems very mean-spirited and irresponsible,” agrees Khanukaev.

The government’s goal is to increase the number of active soldiers to at least 255,000 by 2035, up from the current nearly 183,000; and to double the number of reservists from the current 100,000 to 200,000.

“I think most young people are against politicians in their 60s deciding for them. That’s why I think it’s important to strike,” says Plath. Brussig laments that politicians see them “more like small chess pieces,” and says that if he were called up and could not opt for civilian service, he has even spoken with his family about leaving the country. Carrillo, however, would do it if forced: “Personally, I’m not that against mandatory service. I think it also has its purpose.”

The increase in defense spending worries young people. Khanukaev is concerned about so much money going into rearmament, and Plath notes that Germany is one of the main arms suppliers, so it is already “very involved.” “Germany is arming itself to be prepared for a war. Only in the next five or six years will it be possible to clearly say whether there will be a war in the near future,” predicts Brussig.

Military service has also opened another debate among families of foreign origin. According to the statistics office, in 2022 (the year of the latest census) around 341,000 men with German citizenship born in 2008 lived in Germany. Of them, about one-sixth also held one or more additional nationalities.

As an American, at age 18 I was forced to fill out information for the draft. Should war come and they need me, I’ll be forced to go. On top of that, my choice to not join the armed forces means I lose out on a lot of government subsidized housing, medical care, and education benefits that exist to incentivize me to join.

It sucks, but that is the price paid for living in a free society. Israel and South Korea have mandatory 2 year military service for 18 year olds. Same with Finland I think. Ukraine also doesn’t allow men of certain ages to leave their country.

If the rest of Europe wants to keep their liberty, they have to fight for it. I’m sorry but expecting America to keep you safe forever was never realistic. There are real costs associated with being a free society that normal Europeans have been sheltered from paying. This has lulled the European public in countries like Germany, France, and Italy into a false sense of security.

This is a necessary step. Unfair, hard, but necessary

Kids should refuse this bullshit en masse. That would send a powerful, peaceful message.

Young Germans are one of the larger voting groups for the fascist AfD, which is supporting and supported by russia – so they vote for the enemy who endangers German freedom and peace.

What’s wrong with fighting against a fascist dictator?

We had this for decades in Germany and it was took away 2 years after my service (I declined on army and went with civil-service). I always felt, we take away a great chance for young folks to shift easier and more carefree into being working people also to give perspective and learn responsibility.

I would have loved that civil-service stayed back then and today as well. You have the right to decline the army service and go with the civil one in Germany, thats part of our constitution.

What does it say if people fear having to fight for our countries?

Fear of death outweighs freedom? Do we value freedom enough or was it overrated? Is it because they can shelter behind those that take the heat without any consequence. Is it that when you fight you’ll be scarred but upon return to civil life will be equal to those that fled/dodged the fight, no other reward then freedom like all those that did not join…

I very much hold those that fight in esteem. I feel priviledged being safe behind them. And i feel heavily indebted. Not a clue how to reward them other then extra sponsoring where i can and call out for the hero’s they are.

Conscription in this day and age is unacceptable. Just slap a big fat check on military career and you will have more than enough people who will be much more effective in combat.

the USA and Europe should’ve helped Ukraine to a greater extent and much more quickly.

“My body my CHOICE”

I don’t wanna lose eye, leg or even dié.
I don’t want it to happen to my bros either.

Pls don’t drag me out of my house.

American here:

Germany had military service requirements during the Cold War. I don’t really see what the issue is here. And also, no offense to Germany, but Germany was always thought of as the gateway to Western Europe during the Cold War. It would have been defended by all of NATO, but it was also intended as a buffer between the Soviets and the rest of Europe. That was an accepted fact. Just the way shit worked. People are also ignoring the fact that Trump is gonna be out in 3 years, and his views aren’t represented by any of the potential Republican or Democrat candidates for election. Kind of a nothing burger. Anyone who thinks that the U.S. is going to completely abandon Europe is not thinking correctly.

He was also correct back in 2016-2017. Europe has got to put more money and effort into maintaining and creating military forces. Germany especially needs to create a larger armored force, more mechanized units, etc. France and Poland are at an even better position at this point. Didn’t help that Germany has had a big problem with idiotic pro-Russian politicians, or even worse, total pacifist politicians that would roll over for anyone who walked in with a tank and a gun. But, you gotta make military service more attractive to people. In the U.S. for the most part, servicemen and women get very good benefits and training for jobs outside of the military (infantry is kind ehh but you can still get the GI Bill).

Vote for the Greens! They’re against any form of military spending escalation, come what may!

I sure hope they don’t try to talk it out with Ruzzia, because after everything we’ve witnessed in the last decade or so, it’d be fucking idiotic.

In the past years we’ve seen Europe completely fail establishing its deterrence against Russian aggression and rampant anti-west movements dividing societies with ease. European leaders have been everyone’s wasting time with useless statements and condemnations while Russia is gaining tons of war experience in Ukraine as their allies in Iran and Qatar are leading the information war with protests, disinformation campaigns and excessive botting to promote narratives against the EU, America and their allies.

It’s way too late already to prepare for war and from my personal observation the writing was on the wall for a long time. After decades of relative peace, Europe is about to get a brutal wake up call.