German lawmakers have green lit a plan which aims to bolster the country's military amid the ever-growing tensions across Europe.
In the hopes of attracting more recruits and to stick two fingers up to Russian warlord Vladimir Putin, parliament passed a new law on Friday (5 December).
The Bundestag approved the plan to introduce voluntary military service by 323 votes to 272, with one abstention.
It means that from January next year, 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire which inquires about their interest and willingness to join the army.
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The form is mandatory for men to complete, while it's voluntary for women, according to the BBC.
Mandatory medical checks for young men will also be introduced as a result of the legislation, which stops short of reintroducing conscription.
Germany suspended this for men in 2011, but after this was scrapped 14 years ago, there's been a drastic dip in the footfall of short-term volunteers.
The number of military personnel has hovered just above 180,000 in recent years - compared with 300,000 people in 2001. More than a third of these folks were conscripts, meaning they didn't have a choice in the matter.
And the new law leaves the door open for compulsory service to be brought in once again if needs must.
If Germany was dragged into some kind of conflict in the future, the armed forces would be able to refer to the questionnaires and medical checks to pick out potential recruits.
The nation aims to boost its military numbers to 260,000 over the next decade, while it wants to have about 200,000 reservists to be on standby too.
To entice the next generation into a career in the armed forces, under the new plans, recruits signing up on a short-term basis will be offered better pay and conditions.
There is also set to be better training and more flexibility on how long people can serve, starting from a minimum of six months.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told parliament that 'our allies are looking at Germany', as he suggested that the country has become a 'pacesetter for defence in Europe'.
The latest legislation, which is a modified version of a project that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Cabinet passed in August, is a 'further decisive step for our defence capability', Pistorius said.
However, youngsters in Germany aren't as optimistic about the plan, as students in up to 90 cities have said they will be protesting the move.
A whopping 1,500 people are expected to take to the streets of Hamburg in defiance alone.
In a statement shared on social media, the organisers of one of the many protests said, as per the BBC: "We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill.
"War offers no prospects for the future and destroys our livelihoods."
It comes days after Vladimir Putin chillingly warned that Russia is 'ready' for war with Europe.
Although the leader of the Kremlin said he was 'not planning' on sparking chaos across the continent, he said: "If Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we're ready right now. There can be no doubt about that."
So, it appears that Germany is actively getting its ducks in a row...just in case.
Topics: Politics, Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, World News, Army, Europe
Olivia Burke