Arguments against military service

The medical examination is already mandatory — not just from 2027

All men liable for military service born in 2008 or later have been subject to mandatory medical examination since 1 January 2026. Anyone who fails to follow the summons without good reason commits an administrative offence: fines, a repeated summons and, in repeated cases, police escort are possible.

Up to 250 euros fine for an unanswered questionnaire

Men who do not answer the questionnaire within four weeks face a fine of up to 250 euros. After two reminders, administrative offence proceedings can be initiated.

Men up to 45 need permission for long stays abroad

Since 1 January 2026, men from the age of 17 until the end of the year in which they turn 45 must obtain permission from the responsible Bundeswehr career centre if they want to leave Germany for more than three months. On 9 April 2026 the Ministry of Defence issued a general exemption.

Objection is a fundamental right — not a request for mercy

„No one may be forced against his conscience to do military service involving the use of weapons.“

140 billion euros for the Bundeswehr — one in five euros of the federal budget

The 2027 federal budget earmarks 109.7 billion euros for defence in the core budget — 27 billion more than the previous year, an increase of almost 33 per cent. Together with around 30 billion euros from the expiring special fund, a total of 140 billion euros is available for the Bundeswehr.

"We must become capable of waging war."

„We must become fit for war.“

"140 billion euros — that is a very, very large sum of money."

„140 billion euros — that is a very, very large sum of money.“

The force grows more slowly than planned — but compulsion is already in the law

As of 31 August 2026, around 186,400 active soldiers were serving. The target remains up to 270,000 by 2035. In the second quarter of 2026, 169,141 letters were sent and 86,560 declarations of readiness were submitted — only 22,726 of them by men for voluntary service of six to eleven months.

More objections than at any time since 2011

In the first half of 2026, 5,862 applications for conscientious objection were received. In the whole of 2025 there were 3,879. From April to the end of June 2026 the figure was 5,984, of which 5,571 came from people who had not served.

Germany is facing the International Court of Justice

Nicaragua is suing Germany before the International Court of Justice. The accusation: Germany supports Israel politically, financially and militarily and thereby violates the Genocide Convention. In September 2026 the court held four days of hearings — initially only on admissibility and jurisdiction.

Merz sees no violation of international law — the Bundestag research service does

„I have no doubt today about the legitimacy and also the legality under international law of what Israel has done.“

"The Americans obviously have no strategy."

„The Americans obviously have no strategy. And the problem with such conflicts is always: you don't just have to get in, you also have to get out again.“

War against Iran since February 2026

Since 28 February 2026, Israel and the USA have been attacking Iran. The German government is conspicuously reticent in its public assessment. According to an FAZ report, UN investigators are examining allegations of possible US war crimes.

Arms as a "tool" for deportations

The AfD does not reject arms production in principle: it can matter for internal security, stability and national defence. One does not demonise production wholesale because "tools" will be needed for later "remigration and deportation offensives".

"… talks about violence as a means of politics."

„Anyone who, in the context of the announced mass deportation of people from Saxony-Anhalt, brings up armaments of all things, is talking about violence as a means of politics.“

"Deportations are not a military task."

„Deportations are not a military task.“

The Bundeswehr is to be deployed domestically

Schleswig-Holstein's state premier Daniel Günther (CDU) demanded the deployment of Bundeswehr soldiers at German airports for drone defence. In parallel, legal scholars are debating the limits of domestic Bundeswehr deployments after the reform of the Aviation Security Act.