Germany’s voluntary military recruitment drive has yielded just 530 new recruits from almost 300,000 18-year-olds contacted this year, prompting harsh criticism of the government’s plans to rejuvenate the country’s armed forces.
Five months after the launch of Germany’s new military registration system, the Defence Ministry said it had sent questionnaires to 298,200 young men and women who turn 18 in 2026. While completing the questionnaire is mandatory for men, women are invited to participate voluntarily.
