Germany Seeks More Military Reservists

The German government approved a bill on Wednesday that will allow the mandatory call-up of military reservists for training, as part of plans to strengthen the military and enhance the country's defense capabilities against Russia. Germany plans to double the number of reservists to at least 200,000 by the middle of the next decade, in addition to its goal of having 260,000 active-duty soldiers.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has repeatedly warned that the country must be prepared for war and capable of rapid mobilization in the event of a European conflict.

A key change is the elimination of the requirement that both the reservist and their employer consent to a call-up for training. Relying on voluntary participation is no longer sufficient, according to the ministry of defense.

In response, the military wants to make reserve duty more attractive and provide companies with a longer notice period. The goal is to ensure that reservists are trained and ready should NATO require Germany to rapidly mobilize its forces.

The German reservist association views the proposal positively. However, the business lobby group DIHK is demanding that companies be notified of an employee's call-up at least three months in advance, rather than the planned eight weeks. Parliament will debate the proposal after the summer recess, and the law is expected to take effect early next year.

(Reuters, Max)