More former conscientious objectors are choosing to reverse their decisions, according to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” which cited the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society (BAFzA). Alongside the growing number of individuals refusing military service, the number of those who withdraw previous refusals is also rising, although on a smaller scale. The BAFzA recorded 536 such withdrawals in 2023, climbing to 626 in 2024, 781 in 2025, and 402 in the first half of 2026-a figure that, when projected for the full year, would represent a new record. For a cancellation request, a simple, unsigned declaration is sufficient.
A spokesperson for the BAFzA explained that when a person withdraws their application or declares the cessation of their refusal of military service, they are legally no longer considered a conscientious objector. Should conscription or a defense/tension-related emergency be reinstated, they become subject again to unrestricted military duty.
The Federal Office has also previously notified the public that the number of conscientious objectors is currently increasing sharply in light of the potential reintroduction of compulsory military service. The figures show a rapid escalation: there were 1,079 in 2023, which grew to 2,249 the following year, then to 3,879 in 2025, and finally reached 5,862 in the first half of 2026.
