Foreign policy & defence
The statement in the quiz
Germany should bring back compulsory military service (conscription).
Background
Conscription has been suspended since 2011. The new military service law, in force since January 2026, relies mainly on volunteers, and 18-year-old men must fill in a questionnaire. Making service compulsory would need a separate law passed by parliament.
Sources for the background: Federal Ministry of Defence: The new military service
ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto
Wants to introduce a form of conscription that expands step by step.
From the manifesto „Wir führen eine aufwachsende Wehrpflicht ein.“Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 8
Since the election: In government, it accepted the new military service law, which relies mainly on volunteers (in force since January 2026).
Wants to bring back conscription, including alternative civilian service.
From the manifesto „Daher wollen wir die Wehrpflicht wieder einsetzen.“Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 89
Wants the new military service to be based on volunteers, but with a registration system for military service set up first.
From the manifesto „Der neue Wehrdienst soll auf Freiwilligkeit basieren“Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 58
Does not want conscription back and wants to make voluntary service more attractive.
From the manifesto „Statt den aus guten Gründen seit 2011 ausgesetzten allgemeinen Grundwehrdienst wieder einzuführen“Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 154
Says conscription should not come back.
From the manifesto „keine Wiedereinführung der Wehrpflicht“Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 23
Opposes bringing back conscription.
From the manifesto „Wir lehnen die Wiedereinführung einer Wehrpflicht ab.“Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 6
Opposes bringing back conscription.
From the manifesto „Die Wiedereinsetzung der allgemeinen Wehrpflicht lehnen wir ab.“Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 48
Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.
This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.
Start the quizMigration & citizenship
Work & welfare
Housing
Foreign policy & defence
Tax & budget
Energy & climate
Health insurance
Society & rights
China policy
Manifesto coding and background checked: 27 September 2026 Update log