The political situation in Germany

The German army is short of people – Gen Z is pointed out as the problem

From this year onwards, all 18-year-olds in Germany will receive a letter from the armed forces in which they must state whether they are willing to perform military service. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's ambition is to expand Germany's army to the largest in Europe.

But the reintroduction of conscription has stirred up strong emotions and resistance among Generation Z, writes the Wall Street Journal. At the end of last year, young people protested all over the country and, according to a survey, a record few Germans want a career in the military. For many, the reluctance is about the economic factor and the rising cost of living, rather than pacifism.

“They don't think they get anything from the state, and because of that they become more selfish, and rightly so,” 25-year-old student Benedikt Zacher told the newspaper.

Germany has tried to tackle the problem by raising the fees for volunteers. In the new system, they can earn up to 30,000 kronor a month. The state is also offering to pay for young people's driving licenses if they do military service.

German youth: "I would rather live under Russian occupation than die in battle"

- If there is war in Germany, I will move to my grandparents abroad, says a 17-year-old German girl who the Wall Street Journal has spoken to. The newspaper has examined the difficulties of the German armed forces in recruiting Generation Z.

A 17-year-old boy says:

- I would rather live under Russian occupation than die in battle.

Both have recently participated in school strikes in Germany to show their dissatisfaction with the reintroduction of conscription. From 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo a mandatory medical examination to assess their capacity.