New recruits, NATO objectives… Military personnel numbers in Germany at their highest in thirteen years

With a 26 per cent rise in applications, these figures bode well for the German government at a time when Russia is stepping up its threats against NATO member states, such as Germany.

The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius (second from the right), talks to soldiers during a visit to the Bundeswehr’s 7th Supply Battalion in Unna, western Germany, on 21 July 2026.

INA FASSBENDER / AFP

The German army’s troop numbers are at their highest in 13 years. At the end of July 2026, the German armed forces had 186,700 personnel, representing a 2 per cent increase year-on-year, according to official figures published on Monday 17 August. This is significant news at a time when Russia is stepping up its threats against NATO countries, which are in turn accelerating their recruitment efforts. It is also a source of satisfaction for the Ministry of Defence, which relies on voluntary enlistment rather than conscription.

Over the past year, the number of applications has risen by 26 per cent, with a 12 per cent increase in new recruits. The Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, is delighted with these record figures and expects numbers to continue rising by the end of the year. In a country known for its pacifist tradition, protests against military service have become more frequent in recent months. By publishing this information, the German Ministry of Defence aims, on the contrary, to show that the Bundeswehr is “an attractive employer” and that “the measures taken to develop and modernise a poorly equipped and understaffed army are bearing fruit”.

The issue of the constituency remains unresolved

In the face of the Russian threat, Chancellor Friedrich Merz aims to make the German armed forces the most powerful in Europe in terms of conventional military capability. Whilst the target of at least 186,000 troops has already been met for 2026, this remains insufficient to meet NATO’s objectives, as the alliance expects Germany to have more than double that number by 2035.

If this target is not met through voluntary enlistment, conscription will be introduced. Since 1 January 2026 in Germany, all 18-year-old men have been required to complete a questionnaire regarding their interest in military service; this questionnaire is optional for women. Men aged between 17 and 45 must also officially notify the armed forces if they leave the country for more than three months.

An article written by Sandrine Etoa-Andegue (Radio France), initially published on 18 August 2026, 17:20 (CEST)