The number of refusals to serve in the military on grounds of conscience has significantly increased in Germany since the beginning of 2022.
A representative of the German Ministry of Defense reported that from January to October 2024, 2,468 people submitted applications to refuse military service. This is 50% more than last year (1,609 applications in 2023) and 11 times higher than in 2021, before the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine began (209 applications).
The applications come from both active Bundeswehr soldiers and reservists, who are concerned about the possibility of being deployed to the Russia-Ukraine front. There are also applications from civilians who are not subject to conscription but want to ensure they will not be called up for military service.
The Ministry of Defense clarified that by October, 136 applications from active soldiers, 840 from reservists, and 1,492 from non-commissioned officers had been reviewed. Since the beginning of the war, 549 active soldiers and 1,707 reservists have left the Bundeswehr. The ministry noted that the Bundeswehr is competing for the best specialists, and security concerns are influencing the number of refusals. The right to refuse military service on the grounds of conscience remains, despite the suspension of conscription since July 2011.
