Germany news: Rise in young people refusing military service
Key takeaways
- Amid talk of a possible return of compulsory military service, more young Germans are applying for conscientious objector status.
- 04/27/2026April 27, 2026Verdi calls for warning strikes at Deutsche TelekomDmytro Hubenko EditorThe Verdi union is calling for warning strikes at Deutsche Telekom, a global telecommunications company based in Bonn.
- Following a “disappointing second round of negotiations,” Verdi announced in Berlin that full-day warning strikes are planned nationwide this week.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Amid talk of a possible return of compulsory military service, more young Germans are applying for conscientious objector status. Meanwhile, Germany has become the world's fourth-largest military spender.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Crk BDespite the trend, some who had become conscientious objectors would now consider joining the military Image: Malin Wunderlich/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Germany ranked fourth globally in military spending behind the United States, China and Russia Military spending by Berlin has risen 24% There were 3,867 applications for conscientious objector status in 2025 A new law on military service is thought to have driven the significant increase It was a roundup of the latest headlines from and about Germany on Monday, April, 27, 2026. This blog is now closed.
04/27/2026April 27, 2026Verdi calls for warning strikes at Deutsche TelekomDmytro Hubenko EditorThe Verdi union is calling for warning strikes at Deutsche Telekom, a global telecommunications company based in Bonn.