Phil Werring is considering refusing to serve in the military. He does not want to join the Bundeswehr.
“They always say it’s about defense,” the student told DW. “But I don’t see the threat situation and therefore I have no interest in completing compulsory service in the army.”
Military service is voluntary in Germany for now, but that could change. The army needs at least 60,000 additional soldiers in the coming years, and many observers doubt large numbers will sign up voluntarily. Werring expects conscription will be reintroduced.
He helped organize the nationwide “School strike against compulsory military service.” Werring, a high-school student in Münster who turns 18 this year, is one of the initiative’s spokespeople. Since early 2026 the Bundeswehr has been sending all young men a questionnaire around their 18th birthday that they must answer. One question asks, “Are you interested in becoming a soldier?” on a scale from zero (“no interest”) to 10. There are also questions about physical fitness and educational attainment.
Completing the questionnaire is not the end. Even those who state “zero interest” must still undergo muster — a medical examination by an army doctor — which has been mandatory for young men born from 2008 onward since the start of the year. Women may volunteer for the army, but only men can be legally required to complete the physical exam or be called up for military service.
The Bundeswehr’s intensified recruitment drive, debate over reintroducing conscription, and concerns about a possible Russian attack on NATO territory have led many young men to consider applying for conscientious objection. If recognized as a conscientious objector, a person cannot be called up for military service, including in defense of the country.
Germany’s Basic Law enshrines the right to conscientious objection: “Nobody must be forced into armed military service against his conscience.” That provision reflects the experience of the two world wars and the Nazi dictatorship and applies regardless of whether conscription is currently in force. Active soldiers and reservists also have the right to refuse military service.
Germany had compulsory national service for decades and previously offered a civilian service alternative for those who objected; conscription was suspended in 2011 and the armed forces were reduced in size, so few people refused service in the years that followed. The 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the picture: applications for conscientious objection have steadily increased. In 2025 a new high of 3,879 applications was recorded by the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society (BAFzA). By the end of February this year about 2,000 applications had already been registered.
Applying for conscientious objection requires preparation. Advisory organizations helping applicants have seen growing demand. The German Peace Society — United War Service Resisters (DFG-VK) has built a nationwide network of more than 200 volunteer advisers.
Lothar Eberhardt, who has counseled applicants for decades, says the decisive element is the personal moral dilemma that prevents someone from performing military service. His counselling interviews aim to draw out the individual’s reasons: “What is the moral dilemma and the individual circumstances of the person that have led him to say no to war?” Conversations can last an hour or more. Formulaic or general arguments are unlikely to succeed; applicants must present a credible, well-considered personal statement. While many are recognized, some applications are rejected.
Werring is planning to answer “no interest” when his Bundeswehr questionnaire arrives and is considering applying for conscientious objection with friends. “Then we will show in a high-profile public action that we have no interest in being sent to war,” he said.
This article was originally written in German.