A typically German solution for the underlying problem. It doesn’t solve the problem at all, but introduces a shitload of bureaucracy that’s about as useful as an ulcer on the arse instead.
It does sound less problematic if you cite some “good” sources like this one: https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/neuerung-seit-1-januar-bundeswehr-maenner-bis-45-muessen-auslandsaufenthalt-melden/100214453.html
So basically it is not sanctioned (yet) if you don’t do it and it is automatically granted as long as we are not in an active “war situation” (whatever that exactly means) or rather as long as our military service is still voluntary.
It sounds very problematic in any case, even if they promise (pinky swear) that it is granted automatically.
What kind of shit is that? Wasn’t even necessary in the old conscription system.
The headline would have been correct on 22th December 2025, when it was introduced.
Now it has already been introduced and the 3 month period is over. Since it’s April, all expats have failed to apply for a permission. That includes all men, there is no 45 year limit for the permission requirement.
I am curious how many Germans will be worried that this topic wasn’t discussed when the law was changed and how many wonder that nobody reminded them at the start of the year. The handling is suspiciously sneaky.
Since it’s April, all expats have failed to apply for a permission.
This is incorrect from what I can tell, the law provides an exception for people who have already reported the abandonment of their permanent residence in Germany (which was already required by another law, Bundesmeldegesetz § 17 (2)).
You could be right: People who don’t live in Germany don’t have the defence duty.
Die Wehrpflicht ruht, solange Wehrpflichtige ihren ständigen Aufenthalt und ihre Lebensgrundlage außerhalb der Bundesrepublik Deutschland haben,
However, the law states that men, not people with duty, have to ask for permission.
Männliche Personen haben nach Vollendung des 17. Lebensjahres eine Genehmigung des zuständigen Karrierecenters der Bundeswehr einzuholen
One person argued that a headline clarified that it is for people with duties. It’s possible but I am not sure.
Yeah the law is indeed quite complex, with a lot of caveats and cross-references. One important bit is the continuation of your second quote:
wenn sie die Bundesrepublik Deutschland länger als drei Monate verlassen wollen, ohne dass die Voraussetzungen des § 1 Absatz 2 bereits vorliegen.
And §1 (2) says:
(2) Die Wehrpflicht ruht, solange Wehrpflichtige ihren ständigen Aufenthalt und ihre Lebensgrundlage außerhalb der Bundesrepublik Deutschland haben, wenn Tatsachen die Annahme rechtfertigen, dass sie beabsichtigen, ihren ständigen Aufenthalt im Ausland beizubehalten.
If you have already lived outside of Germany more than three months than that is a “fact that justifies the assumption” that you will continue to do so.
One person argued that a headline clarified that it is for people with duties. It’s possible but I am not sure.
If by duties you mean being under “Wehrpflicht”, that’s just any male 17-45 (during peace) that hasn’t been exempted. If you mean “Wehrdienst”, then no, the paragraph is explicitly about Wehrpflicht. This is intended to keep track of anybody that could be recruited in case of war.
I thought Germany was a progressive country. Why only men?
Sweden reactivated our conscription duty in 2017 and then, since the law should be gender neutral, women were then also required to muster and serve if they where deemed needed by the armed forces.
For those looking in horror at Sweden for forcing young men and women into the military: In reality if you really don’t want to serve, then you will probably preform a lot worse than a person highly motivated to serve their country. Thus you will not be called upon by the armed forces to do conscription.
However with the troubling times we are in the Swedish armed forces require a lot more people to uphold the deterrence and that results in the bar for who gets called upon gets lowered.
The progressive parties in Germany don’t want conscription for all genders.
They want conscription for no one.
Also, Germany’s government is lead by this guy right now.
