5,862 Cases in Half a Year: The Surge in "Conscientious Objection" in Germany Raises Questions for Japan

Numbers of "Objection Applications" Surpass 2011

In Germany, applications for "conscientious objection" to military service on the grounds of conscience are surging.

From January to the end of June 2026, 5,862 applications were submitted. This number exceeds the total annual applications of 3,867 in 2025 by about 52% in just half a year. Moreover, it is approximately 35% more than the 4,348 cases in 2011 when conscription was suspended.

The rate of increase is also noteworthy. By the end of March 2026, the number of applications was 2,656, meaning that 3,206 applications were submitted in just the three months from April to June.

If the pace of half a year is simply extended to a full year, it would significantly exceed 10,000 cases. However, since applications may have concentrated immediately after the system change, it is not guaranteed that the increase will continue at the same rate.

Nevertheless, it is certain that the number of people who consider military service a realistic issue affecting their lives or those of their families is rapidly increasing.

Not all applicants are opposed to the military or national defense itself. Some refuse to use weapons due to pacifism or religious beliefs, while others seek to secure their legal position early in preparation for future system changes.

The increase in applications cannot be explained solely by anti-war sentiment. It should be seen as the result of multiple factors, including the deterioration of the security environment, anxiety about the system, distrust of the government, future planning by young people, and the spread of information through social media.

The New Military Service System Started in 2026

In Germany, conscription was suspended in 2011.

However, the system and constitutional provisions regarding conscription have not been completely abolished. A mechanism remains that allows mandatory military service to be reintroduced through legal and parliamentary procedures if security needs increase.

The new military service system, implemented in January 2026, is not a system that currently forces everyone into military service. Military service is fundamentally carried out on a voluntary basis.

Meanwhile, a questionnaire is sent to men and women who turn 18 to confirm their health status, aptitude, and interest in the Bundeswehr. Men are required to respond, while women's responses are voluntary.

Through this questionnaire, the German government aims to identify those among the youth each year who are interested in or suitable for military service, thereby connecting to the recruitment of volunteers.

The original report contains descriptions that can be interpreted as "all 18-year-old men will undergo mandatory physical examinations starting in 2026." However, according to the German government's official explanation, mandatory physical examinations for men born in 2008 and later are scheduled to begin in July 2027.

The central measure mandated in 2026 is the response to the questionnaire by men. While aptitude checks for volunteers and others are conducted, it is not accurate to understand that "all 18-year-old men are already being forced to undergo physical examinations."

Failing to distinguish the stages of the system could lead to the misunderstanding that conscription has been fully reinstated in Germany.

Why Are Objection Applications Increasing Despite the Voluntary System?

Why are applications for conscientious objection increasing even though the current military service is voluntary?

The main reason is that the new system also functions as a mechanism to prepare for future conscription.

The German government states that if the necessary number of volunteers cannot be secured or if the security environment further deteriorates, the parliament can establish new laws to introduce "demand-based conscription."

Although conscription does not automatically begin, the fact that the possibility is institutionally specified is significant.

From the perspective of young people, even just responding to the questionnaire now can create anxiety that the information might be used for future selection or conscription.

This is because the government's explanation of "it is currently voluntary" and the system design of "mandatory service is possible if needed" coexist.

The questionnaire and physical examinations not only serve recruitment but also form a human resource base to identify who is suitable for military service in the event of an emergency or system change.

It is not unnatural for those concerned about future mandatory service to consider applying for conscientious objection now.

The Bundeswehr Requires 260,000 Personnel

The background to the German government's system change is the serious personnel issue in the Bundeswehr.

The government aims to increase the number of active professional soldiers and term-limited soldiers to 260,000 and reserves to 200,000 by 2035, establishing a total human resource structure of 460,000.

The current active force is in the 180,000 range, requiring an increase of tens of thousands to achieve the target.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European countries, including Germany, have significantly revised their defense policies.

In post-Cold War Europe, the view that the possibility of large-scale inter-state wars was low had spread, leading countries to reduce the size of their military forces.

However, the war in Ukraine has once again demonstrated that defending territory requires not only the latest weapons but also a large number of personnel to operate, maintain, and supply them.

Even with the development of drones, artificial intelligence, and cyber technology, people are needed for troop deployment, facility security, casualty care, equipment maintenance, and the transportation of ammunition and fuel.

For the German government, personnel shortages are not an abstract issue but one that affects the ability to execute the missions assumed in NATO's defense plans.

On the other hand, the state's logic that the military needs more personnel does not directly lead to young people's acceptance.

"The Right Not to Bear Arms" is a Constitutional Right

Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the German Basic Law stipulates that no one shall be forced to perform military service involving weapons against their conscience.

This is not a special exception granted by the state but a constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right.

In Germany, which experienced the Nazi regime and two world wars, the ability to refuse orders based on personal conscience, not just following state orders, has become an important principle of post-war democracy.

Applications for conscientious objection require not only a basic application form but also a resume and a detailed statement of reasons written by the applicant.

Applicants must explain why bearing arms is against their conscience, linking it to life experiences, ethics, religious views, and thoughts on violence.

Simply writing "I dislike war" or "I don't want to join the military" does not guarantee approval.

The responsible agency warns against the spread of misinformation about application methods on social media.

Copying templates from the internet or using AI to generate statements does not demonstrate the applicant's unique conscientious conflict.

Applicants are required to show in their own words how the act of bearing arms creates internal contradictions or distress.

Furthermore, being recognized as a conscientious objector does not exempt one from all obligations to the state.

In times of tension or defense situations, one may be required to engage in civilian alternative service that does not involve weapons.

The German system attempts to separate "fighting with weapons" from "supporting society and the state."

The Spread of "Don't Send Young People to the Battlefield" on Social Media

On social media, young people's anxiety and opposition to the new military service system are rapidly spreading.

On platforms like TikTok, videos warning young people turning 18 that conscription is imminent and posts discussing how to avoid physical examinations have gained attention.

Some posts exaggerate the facts, spreading misunderstandings such as "everyone will be sent to the battlefield from 2026" and "answering the questionnaire automatically enlists you."

In reality, the obligation to respond to the questionnaire is not the same as the obligation to participate in military service. Undergoing a physical examination does not immediately lead to military service.

Nevertheless, the background to the widespread sharing of exaggerated posts among young people is strong distrust of the system.

In youth opposition movements, criticisms are prominent that policies are being decided without sufficiently involving young people, who are the stakeholders in their own bodies and lives.

There is dissatisfaction that while responses to issues important to young people, such as the aging of school facilities, education budgets, housing costs, living expenses, and climate change measures, are slow, military spending and personnel are rapidly increasing.

In May 2026, student strikes opposing the military service system and military expansion were held across Germany, with many young people participating in protests in various cities.

Posts from opponents reflect intergenerational dissatisfaction, questioning whether the country has protected young people's lives before asking them to sacrifice.

The generation that experienced school life restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising prices, housing shortages, and employment insecurity is now questioning whether they are being asked to bear the burden of national defense.

Voices Saying "Someone Needs to Bear the Burden to Protect Freedom"

On the other hand, there are also many opinions supporting the new system on social media and online forums.

With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and significant changes in Europe's security environment, there is an argument that freedom and democracy cannot be maintained without military deterrence.

There is also criticism that the attitude of "opposing the military but expecting to be protected by the military of other countries or alliances" is contradictory.

Some opinions suggest that it is an overreaction to label the system as "sending young people to the battlefield" just because of questionnaires and physical examinations, and that it is reasonable for the state to understand human resources in preparation for emergencies.

Young people who volunteered for the Bundeswehr have expressed a desire to contribute to the defense of their country and Europe, and if they think it is important, they want to participate rather than leave it to others.

However, recognizing the necessity of national defense and imposing the obligation to bear arms on everyone are separate issues.

The sense of responsibility of those who choose military service and the conscience of those who do not bear arms must be simultaneously respected in a democratic society.

Criticizing conscientious objection uniformly as "cowardly" or "irresponsible," or labeling those who volunteer for the military as "belligerent," does not lead to solving the problem.

A New Point of Debate: Inequality Between Genders

Under the new system, while men are obligated to respond to the questionnaire and undergo physical examinations, women's responses are voluntary.

This difference has sparked debates on social media from the perspective of gender equality.

While some argue that if men and women have the same social rights, they should also bear the same national defense obligations, others counter that the scope of coercion should not be expanded to women in the name of equality.

There are also proposals that it should be a social service system where individuals can choose from military training, medical care, nursing, firefighting, disaster response, infrastructure protection, and more.

Should the scope of obligations be expanded to enhance fairness, or should the range of what the state can compel individuals to do be narrowed?

The debate on gender equality regarding military service is divided into two opposing directions.

Social Media Reactions Should Not Be Equated with "Public Opinion"

Just because opposing opinions are prominent on social media does not mean that the majority of German citizens oppose strengthening national defense.

On social media, posts expressing strong anger or anxiety are more likely to be shared. There are also many young users, making the opinions of older age groups, who are not subject to military service, relatively less visible.

Conversely, even if posts supporting national defense strengthening are spreading, it does not necessarily represent the views of all young people.

What can be read from online reactions is not the exact ratio of pros and cons, but what anxieties and points of contention exist.

The main points that emerged from this discussion are young people's self-determination, the reality of European defense, intergenerational fairness, the burden between genders, trust in the government, and the lack of explanation of the system.

The surge in applications is not just a reflection of rejection of military service but also a warning that the government has not adequately explained the purpose and limitations of the system.

This Is Not About Introducing Conscription in Japan

When applying Germany's actions to Japan, it is necessary to understand the constitutional and systemic differences between the two countries.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces are composed of volunteers, and conscription is not adopted.

The Japanese government has expressed the view that conscription, which imposes military service on citizens forcibly, is not permissible in peacetime or wartime based on the spirit of Article 13, which stipulates respect for individuals, and Article 18, which prohibits involuntary servitude.

The government states that this constitutional judgment will not change even if social conditions and the security environment change.

Therefore, just because Germany has introduced a new military service system does not mean that a similar system will immediately start in Japan.

In Germany, the legal basis for conscription remains, and conscientious objection is explicitly stated as a constitutional right.

In Japan, there is a government interpretation that conscription itself is not permissible under the current constitution. The starting point of the system is fundamentally different.

Why Japan Is Not Unrelated

Even though the systems are different, the issue of personnel shortages in military organizations is common to both Japan and Germany.

According to the Ministry of Defense, as of the end of March 2026, the authorized number of Self-Defense Force personnel was 247,154, with 217,701 actual personnel, resulting in an overall fulfillment