YouGov: Very few Germans would take up arms to defend homeland
A new survey conducted by YouGov has found that 24% of German citizens would flee the country rather than join the military service to defend it.
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A demonstration in Erfurt, central Germany, initiated by the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party against immigration policy. (AP)
A new survey conducted by YouGov, which was published earlier on Friday, has found that few German citizens would be prepared to defend their country should a military confrontation erupt.
According to the poll, only about 5% would volunteer for military service, according to the survey. While some 33% of the respondents stated that they would attempt to maintain their regular lives for as long as possible.
On the other end, 24% stated they would flee the country.
Recently, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted that he considered the suspension of compulsory military service in Germany in 2011 a mistake on behalf of the government. More importantly, he said it is not possible to bring back such a policy back "in the blink of an eye."
Military resignations in Germany increase by 500%
The number of German military personnel refusing to serve in 2022 increased about 500% year on year due to the situation in Ukraine, the German Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions revealed earlier in January.
As cited by German media group RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), a spokesperson for the Federal Office noted, "In 2021, the Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions received 201 applications for refusal of military service, and in 2022 there were a total of 951 applications submitted."
Furthermore, the spokesperson stated that since general conscription was abolished in 2011, only individuals who have already served in the German armed services and refuse to continue their military duty are considered "decliners." According to RND, many decliners opted to leave the military to escape possible engagement in the Ukraine crisis.
