Germany is planning to reinstate mandatory military conscription — a move that could include Poles with dual citizenship. The new system, inspired by the Danish model, is causing concern among emigrants who may soon face a difficult choice: serving in the Bundeswehr or facing legal consequences. Due to the lack of an agreement between Poland and Germany, Polish citizens could soon be selected by lottery for service in the German army.
Germany is developing plans to restore compulsory military service, which could affect the lives of millions of people — including Poles with dual citizenship residing across the Oder River. The CDU/CSU–SPD coalition is preparing a model inspired by Denmark, under which young men will fill out a questionnaire about their willingness to serve.
Volunteers will be drafted first, but if there are not enough of them, additional recruits will be selected by lottery. The service is expected to last a minimum of six months and will be preceded by medical examinations and an interview. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that he will soon specify the number of recruits needed and the date when the new regulations will take effect.
The goal is to strengthen the Bundeswehr in response to growing security threats in Europe, but the plan is sparking controversy among ethnic minorities.
What About Minorities?
More than 6 million people in Germany have a migration background, including tens of thousands of Poles with dual citizenship. The new regulations could affect them, since the draft amendment to the Military Service Act requires individuals to disclose all their nationalities.
According to Die Welt, people with dual citizenship are viewed as a “potential personnel reserve for the army.”
Poles who have settled in Germany may be faced with a dilemma: serve in the Bundeswehr or risk legal consequences, such as problems with residency status. The situation of women remains unclear — for now, their participation is expected to be voluntary, but details have not yet been defined. For many Polish emigrants, the prospect of serving in the German army raises understandable concerns and questions — for example, about loyalty to their homeland.
The Law Offers No Protection
The legal dimension of the issue complicates matters further. The 1997 European Convention on Nationality, intended to prevent dual military service, has been ratified by only 13 of the EU’s 27 member states and 21 of the Council of Europe’s 46 members. Poland, like France and Italy, is not a signatory, which means there is no protection against the obligation to serve in both countries.
As a result, Poles with dual citizenship may fall under both Polish and German military law. Experts from the portal PolskiObserwator.de warn that without bilateral agreements, thousands of young Poles in Germany could soon face a difficult choice — especially since the lack of cooperation between the two countries may lead to a legal conflict.
Poland’s Chance to Act
The new German regulations are not yet law, but their potential consequences already raise serious concerns. Poles with dual citizenship should therefore follow the situation closely, as the absence of clear provisions could put them in a complicated legal and personal position. Warsaw still has an opportunity to act — to safeguard the interests of its citizens before the changes come into force.