Germany abolishes military conscription

[News_Editor]

Germany abolishes military conscription

2011-03-25 01:27:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

BERLIN, GERMANY (BNO NEWS) -- The German Parliament on Thursday abolished military conscription, the compulsory enrollment of young people to military service, the DPA news agency reported.

The move suspended the draft effective on July 1, 55 years after military conscription was introduced at the height of the Cold War. Compulsory military service has been part of Germany for centuries, expecting in two periods, 1919-35 and 1945-55.

The opposition Green Party voted in favor of the legislation in the Bundestag (German Parliament). Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), initially rejected the abolition.

The coalition said that military conscription was beneficial to society despite provoking a major migration of young Germans in the 19th century as they fled to the United States in order to avoid military service.

Former Defense Minister Karl- Theodor zu Guttenberg persuaded the CDU and CSU to back the abolition last year. Guttenberg recently resigned to his position after being involved in a plagiarism scandal. He was replaced by Thomas de Maiziere.

Minister De Maiziere continued pushing the abolition of the compulsory military service but suspended other military cutbacks planned by Guttenberg. The current Defense Minister said that the move was fundamental for the reorientation of the German armed forces.

"We no longer need a large number of soldiers, but highly professional armed forces to achieve a modern, efficient, effective, and respected internationally army," added De Maiziere.

In addition, the enrolment of women in the army was discussed in the Bundestag as well. Germany has never conscripted women and the Defense Minister was strongly in favor of including women, voluntarily, in the armed forces.

Germany currently has 228,000 soldiers, sailors and air force personnel. De Maiziere said he would announce the future size of the forces and a reorganization in June as well as an evaluation of the armed forces in one year.

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