Germany may have to introduce mandatory elements in military service in the long term, German Major General Andreas Henne told the R&D media, DPA reported, BTA reported.
His statement was published today. Henne noted that to protect critical defense infrastructure, more soldiers are needed than are currently being recruited.
The general also said that the plan is to initially recruit enough volunteers so that compulsory service is not required.
"The more soldiers we need, the more likely we are to exhaust the limits of voluntary service," the general pointed out, without specifying what the elements of conscription would be.
The ruling coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats plans to introduce a new model of military service that will initially be based on voluntary service. Compulsory military service in Germany was abolished in 2011.