Merz remembers: military service as a formative time for Germany!

Merz remembers: military service as a formative time for Germany!

Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Niedersachsen, Deutschland - Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently shared his positive memories of his military service in the 1970s. Merz served in the Bundeswehr from July 1, 1975 to September 30, 1976 and was stationed at locations such as Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Warendorf, Kusel and Dülmen. As an armored artillery owner, he was trained on the foundation of 190 and on the armored shaft M 109. His last rank was a flag junker. These nostalgic reviews fall into a time when the discussion about compulsory military service in Germany is again absorbed.

The compulsory military service in Germany was actually abolished in 2011. Since then, the armed forces have been a volunteer army, which has triggered numerous political debates. At the moment, the Union and SPD are in discussions about the introduction of a new military service model that is originally supposed to be based on voluntariness. Merz sees this as a step in the right direction, while the Union at the same time demands a restoration of conscription to strengthen the defense policy situation in Germany. The SPD, on the other hand, emphasizes the need to motivate citizens to serve the community.

historical context of compulsory military service

The history of compulsory military service in Germany is complex and deeply associated with the understanding of citizenship and solidarity. The compulsory military service originally came into being in the 19th century when it was regarded as a connection between citizens and the community. The idea that every citizen should be willing to sacrifice time to defend the state has a symbolic meaning in democratic systems. Historical events, such as the American and French Revolution, illustrate the power of a mobilized population and their identification with national ideals.

In Germany, conscription was popularly popular during the War of Liberation against France and after the Reich was founded in 1871 as binding in the constitution. All male Germans aged 20 and over were subject to conscription. This regulation continued to the Weimar Republic, which was severely weakened due to the circumstances after the First World War. The National Socialists again introduced military service in 1935, with the Wehrmacht became a support of Hitler's regime.

The Bundeswehr was founded in 1955 and integrated into NATO, and compulsory military service was included in the Basic Law. Despite the introduction, the debate about compulsory military service has been more intensive in recent decades, especially when the Bundeswehr's personnel requirements decreased and the compulsory military service was suspended in 2011. This led to new challenges for the integration of the Bundeswehr into society, which are still relevant today.

With the current political climate and the memories of Merz of his time in the Bundeswehr, it becomes clear that the discussion about conscription not only affects a question of security, but also of the identity and responsibility of the citizens for their state. The political and social discussion about the topic remains exciting.

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