this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2026
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Would you accept or refuse the draft if your country decided to reinstate it? (piefed.social)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by SilentStriker@piefed.social to c/europe@feddit.org
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To put it in perspective: the USA has it (but dormant as it was last used in the 60s) now, instead part of an automatic register. I've heard that last year Germany for example proposed to impose a mandatory, volunteer-focused military service model on boosting defense against threats like Russia but would you really enlist in the German Army (Bundeswehr) or refuse instead of adhereing to politicians interests?

I've heard a similar thing in France with them introducing a new voluntary 10-month military service program for 18-19 year olds starting this summer 2026, but would guys there be willing to enlist or outright refuse? What ever the case is, would guys in Europe either accept voluntary military service imposed by their nation or refuse to enlist as they know that politicians are the ones who instigate wars in the first place?

For EU nations that still have the draft enforced (mandatory conscription): what happens if guys refuse it? Do they end up in jail? In that case, would you rather be imprisoned for refusing or comply? I know that some countries have alternative service (civic) rather than conventional military service, but what happens if the individual refuses either? I mean, is it a criminal offense for simply refusing conscription?

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[โ€“] timestatic@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

People can refuse and do civil service here in germany. If I was drafted I would do my service because I believe my country and Europe in general is worth defending and there is a lot to be learned even if I don't wish to die. There are also a lot more things to be learned on a personal level even if it hopefully never comes to a direct military confrontation. I would most certainly want the service to not only include men this time as I would find this to lowkey be against gender-equality, as I believe it has to be equal in both directions.

I don't believe I would willingly die for any abstract country or concept, but I would certainly risk my life to defend it. I would much rather risk my life to protect the people I love and the European Union with all it stands for than just let Russia take over and destroy our collective future.

I honestly think if it came to a hard confrontation war would be pretty costly for both sides but there is no way Russia would get the better of us if we sticked together.

But I guess this doesn't mean much because I actually thought about serving a year voluntarily (although the timing didn't line up and I would have had to take 2 years break since they need 3/4 months to find a spot for me to serve)