Number of conscientious objectors to military service rises sharply in Germany

In Germany, the number of people officially declaring conscientious objection to military service with weapons has risen sharply. In the first eight months of 2026, 12,102 people submitted such declarations - more than three times as many as in the entire previous year.

This is reported by Tagesschau, citing the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society (BAFzA).

For comparison, the office received 3,879 such applications in all of 2025, and 2,249 in 2024. The number grew particularly quickly in the summer: by the end of June, 5,862 applications had been submitted, meaning that in July and August alone, their total number more than doubled.

However, general conscription remains suspended in Germany - it was paused back in 2011. Nonetheless, the right to conscientiously object to military service with weapons is enshrined in Article 4 of the Basic Law and continues to apply regardless of whether conscription is in force.

Applications can be submitted not only by active military personnel or reservists, but also by citizens who have never served at all. Recognized conscientious objection may be important in the event of a future reintroduction of conscription or the introduction of a special recruitment system for the army.

At BAFzA, the increased interest in the procedure is linked, among other things, to the new military service rules that came into force on 1 January 2026. The new system provides for mandatory medical examination for young men, starting with those born in 2008, while service itself remains voluntary for now.

The goal of the reform is to increase the size of the Bundeswehr through volunteers. If recruitment targets are not met, the Bundestag can introduce so-called needs-based conscription by a separate decision.

Against this background, counseling organizations in Germany report a growing number of inquiries about the procedure for conscientious objection. At the same time, BAFzA warns that incorrect information about how to submit such applications is spreading on social media.

According to BAFzA clarification, the application must be submitted in writing to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Personnel Management. An autobiography and a detailed personal justification of why the applicant refuses armed service for reasons of conscience must be attached.

The office emphasizes that the mere submission of a standard application without individual justification does not mean automatic recognition of the objection. Some documents are currently being returned to applicants precisely because of incorrect formatting or content that does not meet legal requirements.

Sources: Tagesschau, BAFzA