The German government says it is engaged in a massive military buildup and sees Russia as a growing threat to Europe—but it’s young people apparently have a little interest in helping defend the Fatherland.

According to figures reported by Die Zeit and confirmed by comments from senior German officials, the Bundeswehr contacted approximately 298,200 young Germans who had recently turned 18 as part of a new military registration program launched earlier this year. 

Despite the nationwide outreach effort, an embarrassing number — only 530 individuals — ultimately volunteered to join the armed forces between January and May.

Now Germany is weighing the return of compulsory military service after a voluntary recruitment initiative produced far fewer enlistments than military planners had hoped, raising fresh questions about Berlin's ambitious defense expansion plans amid heightened tensions with Russia.

The disappointing results have intensified debate within Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government over whether Germany can meet its long-term military goals through voluntary enlistment alone.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has set a target of expanding the Bundeswehr from roughly 185,000 active personnel today to approximately 260,000 active-duty troops by 2035, supported by another 200,000 reservists. 

The expansion is part of Germany's broader military buildup following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Berlin's assessment that European security has fundamentally changed.

Under the current registration system, all 18-year-old men are required to complete an online military questionnaire, while participation remains voluntary for women. 

According to German officials, about 96 percent of eligible men completed the survey, although only a small fraction ultimately volunteered for military service. 

Officials noted that roughly one in five respondents expressed some interest in serving, but many indicated they would consider joining at a later date rather than immediately.

Thomas Roewekamp, chairman of the German parliament's Defense Committee, acknowledged that the results have raised serious concerns about relying exclusively on voluntary recruitment.

"If Germany cannot reach its targets through the voluntary system, we will have to return to conscription," Roewekamp said, adding that a decision could come by July 2027 after evaluating another year of recruitment data. 

He also said he has "serious doubts" that Germany can achieve its ambitious personnel targets without mandatory service.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, ending decades of peacetime conscription. Any decision to revive the draft would represent one of the country's most significant defense policy changes since the end of the Cold War.

The debate comes as Germany continues one of the largest military modernization programs in its postwar history. 

Chancellor Merz and Defense Minister Pistorius have argued that Russia now poses the principal long-term security threat to Europe. 

German officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow could potentially challenge NATO's eastern flank within the coming years and have emphasized the need for stronger European defense capabilities alongside NATO allies.

Russia rejects those warnings. President Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims that Moscow intends to attack NATO as "nonsense," arguing that Western governments are using such warnings to justify increased military spending. [Putin also claimed Russia had no intention of invading Ukraine in the weeks and months leading up to its unprovoked February 2022 attack.]

Speaking this week, Putin accused Western countries of openly preparing for confrontation with Russia while portraying Moscow as the aggressor. 

Russian officials and state media have also mocked Germany's recruitment difficulties, arguing that the poor response undermines claims that Europeans are preparing for a major military confrontation.

Public opinion presents another challenge for Berlin. 

Recent polling has consistently shown limited enthusiasm among Germans for military service and combat. 

Elsewhere in Europe, Poland has moved in the opposite direction. 

Warsaw has embarked on one of NATO's most aggressive military expansion programs, rapidly increasing troop strength while purchasing hundreds of tanks, artillery systems, fighter aircraft, missile launchers, and air-defense systems from the United States and South Korea. 

Poland has stated that its objective is to build one of Europe's strongest conventional militaries in response to Russia's war in Ukraine and the changing security environment along NATO's eastern border.

Germany's recruitment shortfall underscores the broader challenge facing many European nations as they seek to expand military capabilities after decades of reduced defense spending.