Germany’s Bundestag approved a contentious military service law on Dec. 5, 2025, voting 323 to 272 to create a revamped voluntary recruitment system while leaving open a route to limited, needs-based conscription. The package aims to expand the Bundeswehr to roughly 260,000 active soldiers and about 200,000 reservists by 2035. From January 2026 all 18‑year‑olds will be sent a questionnaire on willingness to serve (mandatory for men, voluntary for women); men born from Jan. 1, 2008, will face phased medical and fitness checks from mid‑2027. The law raises incentives — a starting monthly gross pay of about €2,600 and minimum service terms of six months (with extras for 12 months) — and obliges the Defence Ministry to report recruitment figures to parliament every six months. Critics, including thousands of students who staged nationwide school strikes and street protests, warned the measures risk normalising conscription; lawmakers retained the option to introduce needs‑based draft through a separate parliamentary vote, potentially including random selection if volunteers fall short. The move follows similar recruitment drives across Europe amid concerns over the Russia‑Ukraine war and NATO readiness.