A high profile ceremony for new voluntary recruits to the <i>Bundeswehr</i>, marking the botched attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1944, was marred on Saturday as a row blew up over the decision to change the location.
The Federal Voluntary Service (BFD), which replaced the civilian national service alternative to military conscription, is finally managing to attract volunteers after a slow start, but there is still unease about the scheme.
Charities and non-profit groups are battling to cope with a dramatic fall in the number of young recruits since civilian conscription was scrapped and replaced with a voluntary scheme, media reported Wednesday.
Germany’s final batch of military conscripts, some 12,000 young men, reported for duty on Monday, as the country moves toward a smaller, professional armed forces.
Germany’s planned end to military conscription and its alternative <i>Zivildienst</i> public service could burden universities with up to 50,000 additional students next year, experts warned on Tuesday.
With military reforms set to end both conscription and its alternative <i>Zivildienst</i> public service, Family Minister Kristina Schröder said Wednesday that Germany should harness the power of its ageing population to fill the volunteer gap.
Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Sunday defended plans to effectively end compulsive military service in Germany – and suggested new recruits should serve under a probationary status for six months.
As Germany debates major military reforms that will likely put an end to conscription – and thus the alternative public service – conservative politicians are suggesting a new compulsory service programme for young adults.
Federal Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Monday presented a new plan to give community service jobs to some 33,000 unemployed with “miserable” placement chances.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition has agreed on the future of compulsory community service for young men who opt out of military conscription, a media report said on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is to bring forward the government’s scheduled reduction of compulsory military service from 2011 to this autumn despite criticism from the ranks, a media report said Wednesday.
With massive education protests filling Germany’s streets, The Local’s Marc Young explains (again) how the country can elegantly save its universities while offering students the chance to pay back society’s solidarity.
