Germany Plans Mandatory Reserve Drills Under New Defense Bill

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
BERLIN, Germany — Germany is preparing a new defense bill that would make military exercises mandatory for reservists and expand the state’s ability to call them up during crises or war.

According to DW Türkçe, the draft legislation prepared under Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would mark a significant change in Germany’s current reserve system, which is largely based on voluntary participation outside a state of tension or defense. The proposal comes as Berlin seeks to strengthen the Bundeswehr and improve military readiness amid a changing European security environment.

Why the bill matters

The German Defense Ministry says the country’s security situation has changed and that the Bundeswehr must be strengthened both qualitatively and quantitatively. Officials argue that Germany needs a more reliable reserve force to meet national defense requirements, NATO-related commitments and multinational operational planning.

The proposed legislation, formally described as a bill to strengthen the reserve, aims to ensure that reservists can be activated quickly and predictably when needed. The ministry says the reliable availability of the reserve is important for national security and social resilience.

The proposal is part of a wider effort to expand Germany’s defense capacity after years of debate over military readiness, personnel shortages and the country’s role in European security.

Voluntary reserve drills would be limited

Under the current system, reservists generally take part in military exercises on a voluntary basis. Reservists can refuse to attend training, and employers can also withhold permission for workers to participate.

The new bill would change that. If adopted, it would allow the Bundeswehr to require reservists to take part in reserve service and training in peacetime within defined limits. Employers would no longer have broad discretion to block participation, though they would be able to request a postponement in certain cases.

Pistorius has defended the approach, saying voluntary military service remains voluntary, but those who choose it should understand that later reserve obligations may follow.

Who could be affected?

The draft bill would apply mainly to people who have already served in the Bundeswehr. Those who completed at least six months of voluntary military service could become subject to reserve obligations.

For people who served less than one year, reserve obligations could apply until the age of 45. Those who served for one year or longer, including professional soldiers and fixed-term soldiers, could remain subject to reserve obligations until the age of 65.

People who served less than six months would not be covered by the planned compulsory reserve obligation.

Service limits would vary by previous military duty

The bill sets different limits depending on how long a person previously served in the armed forces.

For those who served less than one year, compulsory reserve service would be limited to a maximum of three weeks per year and six months in total.

For those who served up to four years, the yearly limit would rise to four weeks, while the total limit would remain six months.

Reservists with longer military experience could face higher limits. Those who served up to 13 years could be called up for as much as six weeks per year and nine months in total. Those with 13 years or more of previous service could be required to serve up to 12 weeks per year and 12 months in total.

The Defense Ministry says these limits are intended to make the system more predictable while giving the Bundeswehr greater access to trained personnel.

Crisis and wartime call-ups could extend to age 60

The most far-reaching part of the proposal concerns major foreign policy crises, a state of tension or a declared state of defense.

In such circumstances, reservists could be called up until the age of 60 without the same peacetime limits on duration. This would apply in situations where an armed attack has not necessarily occurred but the risk of war is considered high, or where a defense mobilization has been declared.

From the age of 60, participation would generally remain voluntary. Reservists could continue serving voluntarily until 65, and in exceptional cases the age limit could be extended to 68.

Employers and reservists could request postponements

The bill also includes provisions aimed at reducing the burden on employers and reservists. Individuals could request a postponement of their reserve duties, and exceptions may be possible in special personal or professional circumstances.

The draft also includes measures related to workplace protection and financial support. Small and medium-sized businesses could receive support when employees are called up for reserve service, while reservists could receive improved compensation in certain cases.

The ministry says these measures are designed to increase acceptance of reserve service among both employers and employees.

Legislative process expected after summer

According to German media reports, coalition partners have reached agreement on the draft. The bill is expected to be approved by the Cabinet in early July and then submitted to the Bundestag after the summer recess.

If passed, the measure would represent one of Germany’s most concrete steps toward rebuilding a more binding reserve system since compulsory military service was suspended in 2011.

The proposal does not amount to a full return of general conscription. However, it would create clearer obligations for those who have already entered military service and would give the Bundeswehr stronger legal tools to rely on trained reservists in both peacetime and crisis conditions.

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