German Gen Z Turns Away from Military Service: "Why Should We Sacrifice?"

Germany, which is pursuing rearmament, is reportedly struggling to meet its recruitment targets for military service due to the skeptical attitude of Generation Z. Analysts say that the younger generation is refusing to make sacrifices for older generations, focusing more on economic issues than politics.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on January 16 (local time), tens of thousands of German teenage students have taken to the streets to protest against the new military service system. Young people are already facing uncertain job prospects and high living costs, and they are angry that military service demands sacrifices for the benefit of older generations. During the protests, students repeatedly asked, "Why should we sacrifice for a country that spends a quarter of the federal budget on pensions for the elderly?"

Germany abolished conscription in 2011, but since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, it has been considering reinstating conscription to prepare for a potential Russian invasion, putting the country at the forefront of European rearmament. Since January 1, Germany has introduced a new military service system that maintains voluntary enlistment but allows for compulsory conscription if there are not enough recruits.

As part of this process, starting this month, the government began sending out questionnaires to about 700,000 men and women born in 2008, asking about their physical condition and willingness to serve. Only men are required to respond, and they must undergo a physical examination regardless of their willingness to serve.

The WSJ explained, "The generational conflict surrounding the military is more about economic issues than politics," adding, "Young people are asking themselves, 'What do I gain from military service?'"

The German government is aware of Generation Z's discontent and is offering incentives to encourage enlistment. Under the new military service system, new recruits who volunteer can receive up to 3,144 dollars (463,000 won) per month, which is 932 dollars more than before.

Germany has set conservative short-term targets. In a letter to parliament, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the goal for this year is to register 20,000 new recruits, and separately, the Ministry of Defense hopes to recruit an additional 15,000 soldiers.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense has set a goal of increasing the number of active-duty soldiers from the current 184,000 to 260,000 by 2035. According to the WSJ, achieving this would require 60,000 to 70,000 new recruits annually.