Germany will not return to compulsory military service, with new legislation introducing a voluntary military service set to start in January, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

The program aims to recruit 20,000 volunteers by 2026, offering €2,600 per month before tax, and will include mandatory physical assessments for all 18-year-old men.

The Bundeswehr currently has around 182,000 soldiers but will need at least 260,000 by 2035 to meet NATO requirements.

Conservative lawmakers pushed for a return to conscription if volunteer numbers fall short, but the Social Democrats rejected it, agreeing instead that the Bundestag would decide on “compulsory military service on demand” if needed, the DW has reported.

The CDU/CSU welcomed the compromise, calling it a balanced approach between voluntary service and potential obligation.