European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
Germany’s army recruitment continues to rise
Euractiv ـ Yet the uptick leaves Germany far short of its long-term ambitions
Germany’s armed forces have grown to 186,700 active soldiers, their highest level in 13 years, as Berlin races to rebuild military manpower and meet its NATO commitments.
The Bundeswehr added around 3,700 men and women over the past 12 months, a rise of roughly 2%, according to new July figures from the defence ministry.
Overall, the Bundeswehr received 47,300 applications last month, up 26% from July 2025. The ministry said, however, that July typically delivers a seasonal recruitment bump, as training for most new officers begins during the month.
Yet the uptick leaves Germany far from where it wants to be: 260,000 active soldiers by 2035 and 200,000 reservists.
If the current pace of roughly 2% annual growth does not accelerate, Berlin will struggle to reach its target. A linear increase at that rate would add only around 36,000 soldiers over the next nine years, well short of the roughly 80,000 extra troops Germany says it needs.
Conscription
To help close the gap — particularly in the reserves – Germany introduced a 6-month voluntary military service in 2026. Although around 12,100 volunteer and short-term contract conscripts are currently serving, doubts remain over whether voluntary service can deliver the numbers Berlin is banking on.
The parliament’s commissioner for the German military, Henning Otte, said that he is “somewhat sceptical” that the programme would generate the required growth.
The Bundeswehr is aiming to attract 20,000 volunteers this year and 23,000 in 2027. If those targets are missed, Berlin could bring back mandatory conscription.
European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
