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The number of conscientious objectors in Germany is increasing rapidly!
The number of conscientious objectors will increase in Germany in 2025, partly due to the debate about forced service and concerns among young people.
The number of conscientious objectors in Germany is increasing rapidly!
The discussion about compulsory military service in Germany has recently gained new momentum and is leading to a notable increase in applications for conscientious objection. By the end of June 2025, a total of 1,363 applications had been submitted to the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA), which corresponds to a massive increase compared to previous years. In 2024 alone there were 2,241 applications. The forecast for 2025 even shows an extrapolation of up to 2,726 applications, as Tixio reports.
The sharp increase in applications raises questions about the social mood. In particular, young people's concerns about their life prospects and the challenges that have arisen during the Corona period seem to play a role. “The concerns about new compulsory service are clearly noticeable,” says Michael Schulze von Glaßer, political director of the German Peace Society – United War Resisters (DFGVK). The current debate about the possible reinstatement of compulsory military service is seen as the main cause of this trend, makes clear ZDF.
Actors and application numbers
Who can actually apply for conscientious objection? According to the information from Tixio, not only active Bundeswehr soldiers, but also reservists and unemployed people are entitled to submit such an application. Reservists represent the largest group among the applicants.
To get a better understanding of the latest developments, it is worth taking a look at the number of applications from previous years:
| Year | Applications |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 951 |
| 2023 | 1,079 |
| 2024 | 2,241 |
| 2025 (forecast) | 2,726 |
Another crucial factor in the discussion is that the Bundeswehr urgently needs more personnel. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has therefore already presented a draft law for a new military service that is based on voluntary participation. This step is no coincidence, as compulsory military service was suspended in 2011 but remains anchored in the Basic Law. The right to conscientious objection to military service in accordance with Article 4 Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law also remains and is for many an important aspect of this debate.
In summary, it shows that people's concerns about their future and the uncertainties in the current political situation should not be underestimated. Whether and how the federal government will respond to these trends remains to be seen.