Pistorius announced a record pace of recruitment for military service in Germany

Military service in Germany is becoming more popular - the Bundeswehr records a record pace of recruitment, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. It's from sb.by.

Boris Pistorius stressed that the growth of interest in service in the armed forces is clearly visible in the number of applications and the number of candidates accepted. So, in 2025, the ranks of the Bundeswehr joined about 25 thousand new soldiers – this is the maximum figure since the country abolished universal military service. Moreover, the upward trend continues: by the end of August this year, the number of new enrollments reached about 17,000, which is 13% more than in the same period of 2025. In addition, the number of applications submitted increased by almost 30% compared to last year.

Since January 1, 2026, the law on a new model of military service has been in force in Germany. It provides for mandatory medical examination and restoration of military records. For now, recruitment to the Bundeswehr remains voluntary. As part of the innovations, men over 18 are required to fill out a questionnaire with data on physical fitness and readiness to serve in the German Armed Forces, while for women, filling out the questionnaire is voluntary.

Pistorius denied claims of purchase of obsolete weapons for the army