Data released by the Federal Statistical Office reveals a significant portion of young men soon to be subject to mandatory military service in Germany hold dual or multiple citizenships, sparking debate and raising concerns within political and security circles. Approximately one-sixth of men, born in 1998 and beyond, who will be eligible for conscription starting in 2026, possess citizenship beyond that of Germany.
According to census data from May 2022, 340,859 men with German citizenship were born in 1998. Of these, 56,693 also hold citizenship in other nations. The most prevalent secondary citizenships include Turkish (14,463 cases), Polish (4,141), Italian (3,857) and Russian (3,691). Significant numbers also hold citizenship in Serbia, Morocco and Kazakhstan. Experts anticipate these figures to have increased following the 2024 reform of citizenship law, which abandoned the previous principle of discouraging multiple citizenship.
The impending return of mandatory military service, after decades of voluntary participation, has prompted the Ministry of Defence to implement a ‘supported loyalty assessment’ for individuals before conscription commences. This assessment aims to determine whether individuals with multiple citizenships will “provide assurance” of unwavering commitment to Germany’s democratic order as defined by the Basic Law.
Concerns are particularly acute regarding the rising number of German-Russian dual citizens. Professor Matthias Friehe of EBS University has warned that the facilitated acquisition of dual citizenship has occurred at a juncture fundamentally at odds with the ‘zeitenwende’ – a shift in Germany’s geopolitical posture following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He argues a commitment to Germany’s democratic principles is inherently incompatible with loyalty to the Putin regime.
Legal scholar Ferdinand Weber, a substitute professor at the University of Bremen and an expert on citizenship law, observes that the previous acceptance of multiple citizenship has created a burgeoning bureaucracy due to the proliferation of potential conflicts. He highlights the resulting security risks and the possibility of loyalty conflicts arising from individuals being called upon to serve in a second homeland. Weber anticipates individuals deemed to pose security risks will likely be excluded from military service following their initial assessment. The situation underscores the complex challenge of balancing inclusivity with national security considerations as Germany reintroduces mandatory military service.
