The Bundeswehr should grow – but voluntarily.

According to SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch, there will be no negotiations on a possible return to conscription during this legislative period. "The coalition agreement clearly states that we rely on voluntary participation," Miersch told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ). "Conscription can then be negotiated in the next legislative period, if necessary, but not in this one."

Miersch believes the goal of 60,000 additional soldiers is achievable in the medium term. "Currently, there is nowhere near sufficient training capacity available." Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had stated that up to 60,000 additional soldiers in the active force would be needed to achieve the new NATO planning goals for enhanced defense capabilities.

The new Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Henning Otte (CDU), said on ARD's "Tagesthemen" program that the troops must be protected from being overburdened. Perhaps compulsory military service should even be reinstated. "As Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, I will bring this up again this year."

Bundeswehr Association head André Wüstner also advised the coalition government to set the course for a possible reintroduction of conscription. In order to achieve NATO's increased targets, voluntary service must also be made more attractive, Wüstner said. He expressed doubts that recruiting up to 60,000 additional men and women for the active military would be possible on a voluntary basis alone.

Miersch said the key question is: "How do we make the service attractive?" He explained: "That wasn't possible simply because of the lack of equipment. Boris Pistorius can now invest and appeal to young people in a different way." They will now wait and see how the Defense Minister's concept for a voluntary troop expansion takes off.