The war in Europe appears to be causing a rethink among those who would literally be on the front lines if it were to expand westward. The number of conscientious objectors among the Bundeswehr reservists has risen massively this year – albeit at a low level. This is reported by the DPA news agency, citing a response from the federal government to a request from the Bundestag's defense committee.

According to this, in 2021 a total of ten reservists submitted an application for conscientious objection - from January to August of this year alone there were already 190. In Germany a total of around 29,000 men and women serve in the reserve.

The increase is even more pronounced among the completely undeserving: the number rose from 23 applications in the previous year to 484 in the first eight months of 2022.

In contrast, the government has so far recorded a decline in applications for conscientious objection among the 180,000 active soldiers in the Bundeswehr: from 176 to 136. However, the previous year’s figure could also be exceeded by the end of the year.

All in all, 209 people made use of this fundamental right last year, this year it was 810. By the end of the year, the number should even increase fivefold. It is not known how many of the applicants were recognized as conscientious objectors.

The German government did not give any reasons for the increase in its answer - but a connection with Russia's war against Ukraine is obvious. The left-wing security politician Sevim Dağdelen spoke of a "vote with your feet" that was promoted by the federal government's strategy after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The figures "also reflect concerns about the consequences of the federal government's military escalation course in Ukraine," she told AFP.

Conscientious objection is enshrined in Article 4 of the Basic Law and is therefore considered a fundamental right. It says: "No one may be forced into military service with arms against their conscience."

The article has lost much of its practical importance since conscription was suspended in 2011. Before that, the annual number of conscientious objectors was well over 100,000. Almost half of the conscripts were conscientious objectors to military service.

Even after the de facto end of conscription, anyone can refuse military service with arms at any time, this also applies to active servicewomen and men. For this purpose, a curriculum vitae and a detailed justification of the decision of conscience must be submitted in writing to the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks. The authority then decides on the recognition. An objection and, if necessary, a lawsuit can be filed against the decision. Recognized conscientious objectors can also withdraw their objection.

Anyone who is recognized as a conscientious objector may not be called upon to do military service in the Bundeswehr, even in times of tension or in times of defence, but may be called upon to do civil defense tasks.

Sources: Basic Law, Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks, AFP news agency