Interest in serving in the Bundeswehr significantly increased in 2024, with 52,100 applications submitted — an 18.5% rise compared to 43,200 in 2023, Spiegel reports.
In response, the German army has intensified its recruitment efforts by organizing career fairs, sports events, and ramping up its presence on social media.
Meanwhile, the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition has proposed introducing a voluntary military service model inspired by Sweden. Under this plan, young people who turn 18 would be required to complete questionnaires providing information about their health, physical fitness, and education — a similar system could be implemented in Germany.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remains committed to increasing the size of the armed forces to 203,000 personnel by 2031. However, he noted that around 230,000 soldiers are needed to ensure full defense capability.
Despite the growing interest, the Ministry of Defense reported that by the end of 2024, the Bundeswehr had 181,174 service members — 340 fewer than the previous year. This decline is partly due to around 20,000 soldiers leaving the military after completing their service or due to dissatisfaction with the conditions.
