Germany is concerned about the lack of working military reservist records

2 June, 2024 Soldiers of the German ground forces during exercises. Photo credits: Heer Germany has experienced problems due to the lack of a working military registration system for citizens in the Bundeswehr reserve.

German Zein newspaper reported on this. It is based on an interview with Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, to the Funke media group. She criticized the fact that after completing their service in the German army, they were not registered in the military registry.

Olaf Scholz and Steffen Hebestreit.

Photo credits: German media

According to her, this has been happening in recent decades. "If we could get half of them with relevant experience as reservists, it would be an incredible asset," she said. The committee chairwoman's statement came amidst the Bundeswehr's problems with finding enough soldiers for active service.

The Bundeswehr is having major problems finding enough soldiers. By the end of last year, their number had dropped to 181,500. The plan assumes that by 2031, the total number of troops will increase to 203,000.

Earlier, Andre Wustner, head of the Bundeswehr Union, raised the issue of military registration and called for all eligible Germans to be registered amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. On this basis, the German Ministry of Defense has already prepared three proposals for the possible resumption of conscription in the country.

German soldiers. Photo credits: EPA/UPG

The options range from optimizing the current procedure, including expanding public awareness of voluntary service, to reintroducing compulsory service for men and women, which was suspended in 2011.

Prior to the decision to abolish conscription, the length of service in the Bundeswehr was 6 months.