Men under 45 will need military authorization to leave Germany for more than 3 months

The German government wants to reach the target of 260,000 active military personnel. Federico Gambarini/dpa/picture alliance via DW German men aged 17 to 45 will need prior authorization to stay abroad for more than three months, according to a new law approved in Germany to establish voluntary military service. The information was confirmed to BBC News by a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp The Military Service Modernization Law, in force since January 1st, seeks to strengthen the country’s defenses in the face of threats from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. According to the legislation, travel authorizations tend to be granted, but it is still unclear how the rule will be applied in case of non-compliance. The new requirement went practically unnoticed until it was reported by the local newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau last Friday (3). Percentage of respondents who strongly trust the Army fell by 10 percentage points, according to survey Christof Stache/AFP Government prepares for emergencies The Ministry of Defense spokesperson stated that the measure aims to “guarantee a reliable and effective military registration system”. “In the event of an emergency, we need to know who may be abroad for an extended period of time,” he said. He acknowledged that the consequences for young people could be “hugely impactful” and said rules on exemptions were being drawn up “to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.” The legal basis for the requirement is the Military Recruitment Act of 1956, amended several times — most recently in December last year. Until then, the obligation to report prolonged stays abroad only applied in the case of a state of national defense or mobilization. The Ministry of Defense official told the BBC that a similar provision “was in place during the Cold War and has no practical relevance”. Germany wants to expand its Army The Military Service Modernization Law provides for an increase in the number of active military personnel, from around 180,000 to 260,000, by 2035. In December, the German Parliament approved the introduction of voluntary military service. Since January, all 18-year-olds have been asked whether they want to join the armed forces. From July 2027, they will also be required to undergo a physical fitness assessment to determine whether they would be eligible in the event of war. Women can volunteer, but cannot be forced to serve, according to the German Constitution. Although the current model is voluntary, authorities admit that a form of mandatory service could be considered if the security situation deteriorates or the number of volunteers is insufficient. When the law was passed, young people protested. “We don’t want to spend half our lives locked in barracks, being trained in order and obedience to learn how to kill,” wrote one of the organizers of these acts on social media. Like other European countries, Germany significantly reduced its armed forces after the end of the Cold War. At the time, the country had almost half a million soldiers. Mandatory military service was abolished in 2011, during the government of then Chancellor Angela Merkel. Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised to rebuild the armed forces into Europe’s strongest army in response to what his government describes as a more unstable security environment on the continent. See the videos that are trending on g1

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