Majority calls for compulsory military service to be returned
In This is met with a majority of support from the MDRfragt community, as the mood in the MDRfragt opinion barometer shows: The majority of the almost 25,000 respondents are demanding a return to compulsory military service. However, more than a third reject their reactivation.
The response is greatest among those who were or are currently in the army as part of compulsory military service or professionally.
The “yes” or “no” to compulsory military service often hides very different arguments from the survey participants.
Unfortunately, as long as despots like Putin come to power, we have to defend ourselves.
Uwe (57) from Leipzig
MDRfragt member Eckhard (67) from Schmalkalden-Meiningen can certainly understand that compulsory military service was suspended over 10 years ago. He writes: “In 2011, the development of the current security and threat situation was not yet foreseeable. One could already get the impression that states in Europe would no longer attack each other with armies in order to assert their interests. In this respect, the use of resources seemed to be elsewhere to be more useful than in the Bundeswehr.”
But now, in his opinion, the tide has turned: “With the occupation of Crimea and at the latest with the attack by Russian forces on Ukraine, these assumptions turned out to be wrong. Even if I can only bring myself to this opinion with a heavy heart: Germany and the The EU cannot avoid strengthening its defense capability.”
Uwe (57) from Leipzig sees it similarly and argues: “Unfortunately, as long as despots like Putin come to power, you have to defend yourself.”
Argument: Compulsory military service deprives the economy of workers
Detlef (68) from Magdeburg and Felix (33) from Erfurt see things completely differently. Detlef says: “There are already too few people working and securing prosperity in Germany” and asks: “Do we really want to take 20,000 more people out of the system?”
Felix argues similarly and comments: “I think conscription takes away important time and manpower from many people and also from the economy. I think it would be better if the personnel in the Bundeswehr were used sensibly and received decent conditions.”
Michaela (49) from Börde also rejects the reintroduction of compulsory military service and, like some other MDRfragt members, quotes a song title: “No, I won’t give up my sons” by Reinhard Mey.
But not everyone finds it easy to make a clear decision on this question. Erika’s (86) opinion is also divided. The Dresden resident writes: “Germany actually needs protection and many young people need discipline and order. On the other hand, I don’t want my two grandchildren to take up arms and judge other people.”
Compulsory military service as an educational measure?
“Breeding and order”: This is also how many MDRfragt participants justify their support for renewed compulsory military service.
Tobias (37) from Mansfeld-Südharz, for example, is of the opinion: “Conscription should be reintroduced primarily to teach young people basic skills: punctuality, cleanliness, obedience, respect.” Sandy (40) from Leipzig would also welcome conscription because “men and women are taught things like discipline, order and other important qualities.”
Quite a few support compulsory military service and completely rule out the acquisition of military knowledge. Mathias (62) from the Saale-Orla district finds “conscription as preparation for war wrong” but “preparation for life right”. He comments: “Every young person should be able to make their bed and keep a little order. Unfortunately, this is neglected in many families. The use of weapons should explicitly not be practiced.”
… among the younger generation, the comeback of compulsory military service is met with rejection
However, a completely different picture of opinion emerges among those under 30, i.e. those respondents who could be affected by a reintroduction of compulsory military service: In this age group, around two thirds reject the return to compulsory military service.
Many of those under 30 are well aware of the arguments along the lines of “in the Bundeswehr you learn respect and decency.” However, like Florian (24) from the Gotha district, some view this view critically. So Florian asks himself: “Isn’t it more likely that the state’s compulsion, decided by old men, to serve in an army prevents this desired respect and decency?” This is certainly the case with him, because: “Why should one show respect for a society that denies this to the individual?”
John (18) from the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district then comments: “Conscription does not give us a well-trained army. It only obliges young people to serve, with whom many cannot identify. We need good incentives so that many people volunteer again Going to the Bundeswehr is never the solution and simply ignores the reality of life.”
Why should one show respect for a society that denies this to the individual?
Florian (24), Gotha district
Jan (22) from Halle (Saale) also sees renewed compulsory military service as an “encroachment on personal freedoms and self-determination” and Daniel (24) from Central Saxony is of the opinion that compulsory military service “is not only suspended, but deleted from the law should be”.
Compulsory military service no – compulsory military service yes?
Marvin (28) from Halle (Saale) also rejects conscription, but he views general compulsory military service as positive. He writes: “No one should be forced to ‘serve at arms’. I would much rather support a general compulsory service, i.e. a year in a job that supports the stability of the state.” And Christian (31) from Chemnitz also doesn’t think compulsory military service makes sense, but he is open to “a year in a social, charitable or similar area”. Some older respondents like Bernd (68) from the Harz region also refrain from conscription and instead support compulsory service “in the social area such as care.”
Around three quarters support general compulsory service
In fact, the introduction of general compulsory military service is much more supported than the reactivation of compulsory military service. Around three quarters would welcome this – but more than a fifth would reject compulsory service.
Compulsory military service should also apply to women
In The opinion of the MDRfragt community is already leaning strongly in one direction. Half of those surveyed would be in favor of renewed conscription this time for both women and men.
Volunteers: Many are calling for more efforts to be made to create a professional army
From the point of view of two thirds of those surveyed, the Bundeswehr should make more efforts to recruit professional soldiers.
But what might these efforts look like? Kristina (77) from Jena, for example, believes: “People who sacrifice their lives for the lives of others should be paid disproportionately and receive sufficient compensation for health impairments as a result of a deployment.” Rainer (74) from Dessau-Roßlau adds: “Public appreciation must be increased significantly so that those wearing uniforms can be proud of what they do.”
Alexandra (51) from the Ilm district argues similarly, albeit from a different perspective. She “can’t understand why you join the army” and notes: “At worst, you risk your life to advance the interests of a few who don’t care about you at all.”
Advertising for the Bundeswehr
Already The Bundeswehr is now promoting service as a soldier – and its associated image – with poster campaigns or appearances on social networks. This is also largely viewed positively in the MDRfragt community. However, almost a third of those surveyed reject such advertising campaigns.
About this survey The survey from April 12 to 16, 2024 was entitled: “Conscription: yes or no?”
Anyone who is at least 16 years old and lives in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia can register and participate in MDRfragt because: We want to get to know and represent the diversity of arguments. The respondents’ comments allow the reasons for the respective positions and the spectrum of opinions to be made visible.
Since anyone who wants to can participate, the results of MDRfragt are not representative. In this survey, 24,784 people from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia contributed their opinions online.
The results of MDRfragt are weighted according to scientific criteria based on various socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender or level of education in order to adapt them to the actual distribution in the Central German population. This increases the significance of the results and creates a valid and categorizing picture of the mood in Central Germany.
MDRfragt also receives scientific advice and support, for example through regular validity tests. You can find out more about MDRfragt’s methodology at the end of the article.