Number of conscientious objectors in Germany rises significantly

Background: The new Military Service Act

The rise coincides with the entry into force of the new Military Service Act. „Zu Jahresbeginn trat das neue Wehrdienstgesetzes in Kraft“, berichtet das RND. At the core of the law is a compulsory medical and aptitude examination for young men born from the 2008 cohort onward. At the same time, the law provides for a voluntary model intended to increase the troop strength of the Bundeswehr.

The German government's goal is to increase the number of active Bundeswehr soldiers from currently around 185,000 to at least 260,000 by 2035. „Ziel ist es, die Zahl der aktiven Bundeswehrsoldatinnen und -soldaten bis 2035 von derzeit rund 185.000 auf mindestens 260.000 zu erhöhen“, heißt es in dem Bericht. The new military service initially relies on voluntariness.

„Für den Fall, dass angestrebte Personalstärken über das Freiwilligen-Modell nicht erreicht werden können, ist die Wiedereinführung einer Wehrpflicht möglich“, berichtet das RND weiter. Such a needs-based conscription would, however, have to be decided by the Bundestag: „Nötig dafür wäre allerdings ein Beschluss des Bundestags“. Conscription is currently suspended but remains enshrined in the Basic Law.

Right to conscientious objection in the Basic Law

The Basic Law guarantees the right to refuse armed military service on grounds of conscience. This right, anchored in Article 4 (3) of the Basic Law, continues to exist regardless of the suspension of conscription.

According to the report, the rising application numbers are also seen against the backdrop of the tense security situation in Europe. The RND report was broadcast on 14 July 2026 on the Deutschlandfunk programme. By 30 June, a total of 5,862 applications for conscientious objection had been filed, according to the BAFzA.

Revoked applications for objection

In the first quarter of this year, 233 withdrawals of earlier applications for objection were also registered. This means that more people have already withdrawn their application for objection this year than in the entire previous year, when, according to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, 781 people revoked their earlier application for objection.

The refusal of military service on grounds of conscience is a right that has been established in Germany for decades. With the new Military Service Act and the compulsory medical and aptitude examination from the 2008 cohort onward, the question of whether young men wish to refuse service with a weapon is once again gaining practical significance.

Political significance of the figures

The developments in application numbers are being closely monitored by the federal government. Should voluntary applications not suffice to reach the targeted personnel strength, the political debate over reintroducing conscription could gain momentum.

The RND report, published on Tuesday, provides new indicators of public sentiment towards military service. The significantly higher application figures suggest that a growing share of young men in Germany are engaging with the question of possible conscientious objection.

The figures are also politically relevant because they provide indications of how strong the willingness in the population is to perform military service. Should applications for objection continue to rise, this could additionally influence the debate about the future of military service in Germany.