The Bundeswehr has reached a strength of 186,700 personnel, its highest level in around 13 years, following an increase of 3,700 service members over the past year. The total already falls within Germany’s 2026 personnel target of 186,000 to 190,000 troops, and defense officials expect additional growth. Recruitment activity has also accelerated, with 47,300 military career applications recorded by the end of July, representing a 26 percent annual increase. The number of new recruits rose 12 percent to 15,400. Berlin has set a much larger long-term goal of approximately 260,000 active-duty personnel and 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s. A new military service law has introduced a registration mechanism intended to strengthen voluntary recruitment and potentially support conscription if it is reinstated. Questionnaires sent to young people have helped identify individuals interested in military service, although completing the form does not require enlistment. The expansion reflects Germany’s broader effort to strengthen its military manpower and address personnel requirements linked to its changing defense posture.
