The number of applications for conscientious objection to military duty continues to climb. According to data cited by the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (noz) from the Federal Office for Family and Civic Engagement (BAFzA), just in the first quarter of the current year, 2,656 people filed such applications-a figure surpassing the total applications submitted throughout the entirety of 2024 (2,249).
If this upward trend persists, the figure for 2026 could reach the highest level recorded since mandatory military service was suspended in 2011. For comparative data, the total applications processed in 2025 amounted to 3,879 submissions. Meanwhile, in 2023, 1,079 individuals were recorded as refusing service in the armed forces. Experts attribute this heightened activity to the volatile security situation and ongoing public debate regarding the potential reintroduction of compulsory military service.
In parallel with the rise in refusals, there is also an increasing number of people withdrawing their previously declared conscientious objections. Last year, the number of retractions stood at 781 cases; in the first quarter of the current year, this figure was already 233. This demonstrates a noticeable change from previous years, when the number of applications for reconsidering a previous objection was 304 in 2021, but rose significantly to up to 626 in 2024.
It is important to note that mandatory military service has been suspended since 2011 and remains active only in the event of a defensive requirement. Regardless of the current status, the right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience remains enshrined, as stipulated under Article 4 (3) of the Basic Law. Applications related to conscientious objection are accepted by the career centers of the Bundeswehr, which then forward them to the BAFzA.
