Numbers of Conscientious Objection Applications Rise in Germany Amid Expanded Bundeswehr Recruitment

In Germany, nearly 2,000 applications for conscientious objection to military service were submitted in the first two months of 2026.

This represents more than half of the total figure for all of 2025, when 3,879 such applications were submitted, according to DW.

At the same time, not only is the number of refusals rising, but so is the number of people willing to serve in the Bundeswehr.

According to official data, in 2026 the number of people wishing to enlist increased by approximately 20% compared to the same period last year.

The rise in both figures is attributed to the military system’s expanded outreach to young people.

In 2026, Germany introduced a new mechanism—all 18-year-old citizens are sent questionnaires regarding their readiness for service.

Men are required to fill out the questionnaires and undergo a medical examination regardless of their response. It is precisely because of the expanded survey that more young people are being forced for the first time to decide on their attitude toward military service—whether to enlist or to refuse.

Previously, a significant portion of young people did not identify with the military at all due to a lack of direct contact with the system.

The need for personnel remains: the Bundeswehr needs at least 60,000 additional troops in the coming years.