By Alimat Aliyeva

In Germany, there is growing discussion around the idea of
making military or national service in the Bundeswehr
compulsory—not just for men, but for women as well,
Azernews reports.

According to Tagesspiegel, Thomas Röwekamp, the chairman of the
Bundestag’s Defense Committee, has voiced strong support for the
initiative.

“I believe that every man and woman—regardless of whether they
are of German or foreign origin—should dedicate a year of their
lives to serving our society,” Röwekamp said. “Every year, around
700,000 young people graduate from schools and universities in
Germany. The government needs to explain to them that they have a
responsibility to contribute to peace, freedom, democracy, and
prosperity.”

While Röwekamp supports the concept of universal service, he
admitted that a legislative amendment introducing mandatory
military conscription for both sexes is unlikely to gain majority
support in the Bundestag at this time.

Importantly, the proposal doesn’t strictly focus on armed
service. The vision includes various forms of civic
engagement—volunteering in social, environmental, or medical
sectors. This broader model resembles national service programs in
countries like Sweden or Israel, where conscription includes both
civilian and military options.

Germany suspended mandatory conscription in 2011, transitioning
to an all-volunteer military. However, amid rising geopolitical
tensions and increasing pressure on NATO countries to bolster
defense capabilities, conversations about reinstating some form of
national service have resurfaced.

The idea of including women in compulsory service reflects
changing social norms and an effort to modernize civic
responsibility in line with gender equality. If implemented,
Germany would be among the few European countries to require
universal service from both men and women.

Public opinion on the matter remains divided—some see it as a
valuable opportunity to foster unity and civic responsibility,
while others argue it infringes on personal freedom and may not be
effective in addressing military recruitment challenges.