Public Opinion Shifts Towards Reintroduction of Conscription in Germany
A significant majority of German citizens over the age of 18 now favor the reinstatement of mandatory military service, according to a recent survey conducted by the Infratest research institute for the ARD’s “Deutschlandtrend”. The poll of 1,312 eligible voters, spanning from Monday to Wednesday of this week, reveals a notable increase in support for a renewed conscription system.
Fifty-five percent of respondents expressed support for a combined civil and military service obligation for both men and women, marking a 10-point rise since April. An additional 18 percent advocate for the return of mandatory military service exclusively for men, while nearly a quarter (23 percent) believe the current suspension of the service, in place since 2011, should continue.
Support for either form of conscription is notably strong among members of the governing parties, with 83 percent of SPD supporters and 87 percent of CDU/CSU voters favoring its return. Significant support is also evident among Green (72 percent) and AfD (71 percent) constituents. Notably, the Left party stands out as the only party represented in the Bundestag with a majority of its supporters favoring the continuation of the suspension (58 percent).
The survey also highlights generational differences. While 51 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds support the reintroduction of conscription, a higher proportion (45 percent) are opposed. Conversely, support for a return to military or civil service is considerably higher among older demographics, reaching 72 percent for those aged 35 to 49, 85 percent for those aged 50 to 64 and 78 percent for those over 65.
A substantial majority (73 percent) of Germans believe the country urgently requires more soldiers for national defense in the event of a crisis, while 22 percent hold a different view. Furthermore, 62 percent of respondents agree that Germany needs to be prepared for war to ensure peace in Europe, with 31 percent disagreeing. However, a majority (57 percent) express concern about the seemingly casual discussion surrounding military readiness in Germany, while 37 percent do not share this apprehension.
In terms of which political parties are perceived as best positioned to uphold peace, the CDU/CSU are most frequently identified as a peace-oriented force. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of respondents believe the Union is most capable of maintaining and securing peace in Europe, an increase of 4 percentage points since June 2024. The AfD was cited by 14 percent, the SPD by 11 percent (a decrease of 6), the Greens by 5 percent (a decrease of 3) and the Left party by 5 percent (an increase of 2). The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance received 3 percent.
