Bundeswehr needs 60,000 soldiers – red alert in BW!

Bundeswehr needs 60,000 soldiers – red alert in BW!

There is movement in the debate about the future of the Bundeswehr and possible reforms to increase personnel. On June 15, 2025, politicians and experts will discuss the need not only to increase troop numbers, but also to address the issue of conscription. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has made it clear that the Bundeswehr should grow to over 203,000 soldiers by 2031. Currently there are only around 181,000, which is below the desired target level. This comes from a report by SWR out.

Pistorius announces the need for up to 60,000 additional soldiers. At the same time, however, he emphasizes that the discussion about compulsory military service is of little use at the moment because there is a lack of capacity to accommodate soldiers. In Baden-Württemberg, over 18,000 people currently work in Bundeswehr units and there are 161 properties, including barracks, training areas and a Bundeswehr hospital. That's what she reports too daily news.

Space problems and structural challenges

The high utilization of the barracks in Baden-Württemberg means that the everyday life of the soldiers is severely affected. Soldiers over the age of 25 in particular often feel cramped in their rooms, as the 2024 annual report by the Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Högl shows. High rents in the area force many to live in hotels, which in turn could affect their willingness to work.

With regard to infrastructure, the Bundeswehr plans to use existing buildings more intensively and even reintroduce double bunk beds. A modular infrastructure approach is intended to help accommodate the additional soldiers required. For this purpose, 2.6 billion euros are planned for construction projects in Baden-Württemberg from 2025 to 2031, including the expansion of the Graf Zeppelin barracks in Althengstett, which will cost around 200 million euros.

Compulsory military service vs. voluntary service

The debate about reintroducing compulsory military service has also gained momentum. While the Union calls for a mandatory year of service for men and women, the SPD relies on a voluntary military service concept. This leads to different views within the coalition. Loud Deutschlandfunk The Bundeswehr lacks more than 100,000 soldiers to be able to defend itself by 2029.

However, political scientists warn that the introduction of compulsory service could be problematic in the current social mood. Pistorius' proposal stipulates that all German citizens of one year receive a type of questionnaire about military service; for women this would then be voluntary. However, critics are calling for better conditions for voluntary service in order to attract more interested people.

In summary, it can be said that the Bundeswehr is facing major challenges. Aside from the urgent need for personnel, the infrastructure also needs to be brought up to speed in order to optimize daily processes. The coming years could be crucial for the development of the German armed forces.