Conscientious Objection: Number of Applications Rises Sharply

Germany is witnessing a significant increase in applications for conscientious objection to military service. In the first six months of 2026, the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs received 5,862 such applications. This figure surpasses the total number of applications received in the entire year of 2011, when conscription was suspended. For comparison, 3,867 applications were filed in 2025, and 4,348 in 2011. Experts and media reports suggest that the surge is driven by two main factors: the heightened security situation in Europe and the new military service law that came into effect on January 1, 2026. Under the new law, all 18-year-old men are required to register with the Bundeswehr to potentially volunteer for an expansion of the armed forces. The Bundeswehr aims to grow from its current strength of 186,000 active soldiers to 260,000 by 2035. If recruitment targets are not met through voluntary enlistment, there is a possibility of reintroducing mandatory conscription, a measure particularly favored by conservative parties. While conscription was suspended in 2011, it remains anchored in Germany's Basic Law. The right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience is constitutionally protected, independent of the conscription status. The process for approving these applications requires a brief written statement, a curriculum vitae, and a detailed personal justification.