BERLIN - Germany is embarking on its biggest military reform since reunification. The goal is clear: to transform the Bundeswehr into the strongest conventional army in Europe. This ambitious plan, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised as soon as he took office in May, is a direct response to Russian expansionism and the deteriorating security situation.
German Army General Carsten Breuer recently warned that NATO must prepare for a possible Russian attack within four years. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius added that Germany must be war-ready by 2029 at the latest, according to the US website Newsweek. The plan stands and falls with the people. Germany needs to increase the number of active soldiers from 182,000 to 260,000, supplemented by another 200,000 reservists.
Although the ruling parties do not want to renew full conscription, they are coming up with a new model. Under the proposal, from next year every 18-year-old male will have to fill out a mandatory questionnaire to check his fitness and willingness to serve. First up will be the class of 2008. For women, the process remains voluntary. MEP Jens Spahn has introduced the term Bedarfswehrpflicht, i.e. „need-based levy“, writes The Guardian. Although the law provides for voluntariness, if the states fail to fill up, the introduction of flat levies is in the air.
Motivation and subsidisation
And how do they want to lure young people into the army? Through money and benefits. For example, free driving lessons are in play, the price of which has risen sharply in Germany and the Czech Republic in recent years. They also promise to increase the starting salary to 2,600 euros (roughly CZK 63,000) a month before taxes. Funding is to be provided primarily by a special fund of 100 billion euros (over CZK 2.5 trillion), which was approved shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By 2029, the country is expected to spend €153 billion (roughly CZK 3.8 trillion) a year on defence, or an amount equivalent to 3.5 % of GDP. As Politico points out, massive contracts are also at stake. By the end of 2026, Berlin plans to have €83 billion (roughly CZK 2.1 trillion) worth of defence contracts before parliament. The vast majority of this money will go to European, and especially German, defence industries such as Rheinmetall. Less than 10 % contracts will go to US contractors.
Nervous France, happy Poland
The fact that Europe's economic giant is also becoming a military giant is being watched closely by the rest of Europe. France watches German armaments with undisguised scepticism. According to the server Politico there are fears in Paris that Germany will become „extremely dominant“, not only militarily, but especially economically and industrially. This rivalry is already manifesting itself in the key joint project of the next-generation FCAS fighter.
Poland, on the other hand, perceives the strengthening of Germany as necessary and overdue. Warsaw sees German arms build-up as a logical response to signals from Washington about a possible reduction of the US presence in Europe. In such a scenario, Poland and Germany would become the main defenders of NATO's eastern flank. However, Poland is still calling for verification that Berlin is serious about its commitment to defend Europe, especially in light of the growing pro-Russian AfD party.
In any case, the centre of gravity in Europe is shifting eastwards. For the continent, this represents a major test of whether Germany can use its new strength to the benefit of common defence and whether it will find the political will to do so after three decades of cuts.
idnes.cz/gnews.cz-jav
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