The last conscripted squaddies of Germany’s peacetime army fell out of parade and ended their national service on Friday. It signalled an end to the call-up and the start of a hard sell to young men, in a staunchly pacifist land, to enlist as a career choice.
Fifty-five years after the first conscripts joined the Bundeswehr, the army is now a wholly professional force. “Wir Dienen Deutschland” (“We serve Germany”) is its new slogan as recruiters try to learn from the British Army and make a military career appealing and sexy to a sceptical, educated youth.
Scrapping the call-up was controversial for Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, whose conservative supporters believed in the power of military discipline for young people. It was also one of the much admired and enduring facets of growing up in the post-Hitler society. The idea had been to educate young people and create a new German soldier, aware of his civic responsibilities: the citizen in uniform.
It was accompanied by a scheme of officially vetted conscientious objection, where pacifists could choose to work in old people’s homes or mental hospitals rather than take up arms. Time spent doing either became a bonding experience for young Germans, and part of the social fabric. In the end, close to 8.5 million Germans shared this duty, for better or worse.
But Germany’s recent involvement in overseas military missions, coupled with gripes from Nato members that the military had to become more professional, finally led to the end of the scheme.
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The move will result in the army being reduced to a maximum of 185,000 people, from 250,000, and billions will be saved from the defence budget.
Young soldiers are being offered €1,000 a month tax free. “An 18-year-old wouldn’t get that anywhere else in Germany,” said the defence minister Thomas de Maziere, insisting that there are sometimes three applicants for every place, thereby refuting the argument that the Bundeswehr will have trouble filling the gaps left in the ranks by departing conscripts.
Mr de Maziere added: “It is crucial that we inspire young people now in this first year. If they tell their friends at home how interesting the service is, then we have won.”
Officials have already begun touring schools to sell the Bundeswehr as a career choice. But some of those who finished their service on Friday seemed less than impressed.
“I am glad it’s over,”said Sami Galal El Din, 20, who, despite his Egyptian name, is German born and served in the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin in the Watch Battalion. He added: “But I am actually quite proud. I can talk about it for the rest of my life; that I was one of the last.
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“What did I learn? Well, I can iron a shirt with my eyes shut!” said one recruit who served in a Berlin barracks. Another, who served near Munich, said: “It all seemed rather pointless.”