In Germany, the number of military service refusers has sharply increased. According to the Funke media group, from January to the end of August 2026, the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society received 12,102 applications. Thus, the number of refusers has already more than tripled compared to the entire year of 2025, when there were 3,879. At the same time, the office reports serious problems in processing applications. According to its representative, "there is a large number of incorrectly directed applications" that must be "returned without consideration." The sharp increase in the number of refusers is attributed to the tense security situation and the conscription reform law that came into effect on January 1. It stipulates that starting in 2026, 18-year-old boys will have to fill out a form in which they will have to answer a question about their willingness to join the German armed forces. Young people have the right to declare their refusal of military service in advance, reports Deutsche Welle. Mandatory service, which was suspended in 2011, may be partially reintroduced by a decision of the Bundestag. The so-called "military obligation as needed" is planned to be activated if the necessary number of volunteers cannot be reached. By 2035, the number of active military personnel is expected to increase from 186,000 to 260,000.
