Skip next section Germany’s top general says all young men should be considered for military
11/03/2025November 3, 2025
Germany’s top general says all young men should be considered for military
Germany’s armed forces chief has rejected the idea of a draft lottery in the ongoing debate over reintroducing , saying all young men should undergo assessment to determine eligibility.
General Inspector Carsten Breuer told Germany’s RND media group that, from a military standpoint, it was essential to screen entire age groups. “Only then do we know who is available and whom we could call upon in a defense situation — one we want to prevent,” he said.
Breuer argued that drawing lots after screening would bring in recruits by chance rather than motivation, making training less effective. If , he said the Bundeswehr should select those who are “especially qualified and motivated,” targeting skills such as IT expertise rather than relying on random selection.
He said a would likely , provided that service is seen as meaningful and appealing.
The Bundestag is currently debating a new military service law. Within the ruling coalition, disagreement remains over what steps to take if voluntary enlistment fails to meet personnel needs.
https://p.dw.com/p/52z1o
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage11/03/2025November 3, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from DW’s newsroom in Bonn and Danke Schön for joining us as the autumn leaves fall outside.
Adding his voice to an ongoing debate, Germany’s armed forces chief has dismissed the idea of using a lottery to reintroduce military service.
General Inspector Carsten Breuer has said all young men should first be assessed for eligibility.
Breuer said screening full age groups was vital to know who could serve if needed, amid an increasingly perceived threat from Russia.
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https://p.dw.com/p/52z0W
The post Germany news: Army boss wants all young men vetted for draft appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
