Ukraine war without effect
A conscience can change: So many Germans withdrew their conscientious objection in 2022
Military service is no longer out of the question – last year 487 Germans withdrew their conscientious objection to military service
© Arno Burgi / DPA
Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, more than 400 people have revoked their conscientious objection – significantly more than in the entire previous year. However, the number is not an outlier in a long-term comparison.
“No one may be forced into armed service against their conscience.” Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law regulates this in no uncertain terms. And despite compulsory military service, which has been suspended since 2011, Germans continue to exercise their right to conscientious objection year after year. In 2022 there were a total of 951, an increase of more than 700 compared to the previous year. Hundreds of members of the Bundeswehr are among the conscientious objectors recognized last year (the star reported).
The reason for the increasing number is assumed to be Russia’s war in Ukraine – many may be reassessing the danger of a military conflict and relying on their conscience not to be able to take part.
Renounced hundreds of recognitions for conscientious objection
But what about the other way around? Are there conscientious objectors whose conscience has changed and who, in view of the war in Europe, can now imagine armed service?
They can declare their “voluntary waiver of recognition as a conscientious objector” to the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA). This means that they can – at least theoretically – be able to serve in the armed forces again.
In the past year have total 487 People made use of the opportunity of it 462 since Russia’s attack on its neighboring country at the end of February 2022 – more than in the two previous years, but also less than in the years 2014 to 2019 star present.
On average between 2014 and 2022 annually 532 Citizens renounced their status as conscientious objectors – the war against Ukraine obviously has no effect on the number. But that could not be determined anyway. “It is not necessary to state reasons in the waiver,” explains BAFzA spokesman Sinan Bürryü star.
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In any case, the number of those who revoke their recognition as conscientious objectors is negligible. Since the introduction of conscription in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957, millions of people have refused military service with arms for reasons of conscience and have done civilian service instead.
Anyone who would like to do this in 2023 despite having suspended military service must submit their application for conscientious objection to the Bundeswehr Career Center (formerly the district military replacement office). From there it is forwarded to the BAFzA. The application must contain a complete tabular curriculum vitae and a detailed personal justification for the conscientious decision. In case of doubt, there can also be an oral hearing.
The voluntary waiver of recognition as a conscientious objector is less complex. “The declaration of waiver can be submitted by post or as an email document, provided that the personal signature is inserted,” explains BAFzA spokesman Bürryü. It must also contain personal information such as address, place and date of birth and, if applicable, the personal identification number from civil service. And: “It must be clear from the application that the person renounces recognition as a conscientious objector because there are no reasons of conscience for military service with weapons.”
Sources: Information BAFzA, BAFzA on conscientious objection, constitution