In 2011, conscription was suspended but not abolished.
More than 3,000 applications from citizens wishing to refuse military service have been received by the personnel centers of the German army, compared to about 200 in 2021, reports Spiegel, citing Bundeswehr data.
According to Spiegel, by the end of August 2025, the number of applications for exemption from military service in Germany reached 3,257. This is 9.2% more than for the entire year of 2024, when 2,998 such requests were submitted. The majority of the applicants were individuals who had not served, as well as reservists, reports RIA Novosti.
In 2023, the number of refusers was 1,609, while in 2022 it was about 1,100. In 2021, only about 200 people submitted similar applications. The current figure is approaching the maximum level in the last 14 years, notes the publication.
In 2011, conscription in Germany was suspended but not abolished. The right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience continues to exist. Relevant applications can be submitted by active servicemen and reservists, as well as former conscripts and those who have not served.
The right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany, and most such requests are granted.
The parliamentary faction of the CDU/CSU previously blocked the discussion of a draft law on changes to the military service system proposed by the German Ministry of Defense. The document provides for the introduction of voluntary service based on the Swedish model and mandatory medical examinations for all school graduates. The draft law also allows for a return to universal conscription if necessary. Later, a representative of the SPD stated that coalition faction leaders agreed to hold debates on this issue.
