Germany's Bundestag has voted 323 to 272 to bring back voluntary military service. This move aims to strengthen national defence after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Starting January 2026, all 18-year-old men will receive a questionnaire asking if they want to join the military. Women will get the option voluntarily. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said from July 2027, all 18-year-old men must take a medical exam to check fitness for service. This will speed up recruitment during potential attacks. Germany's army, the Bundeswehr, currently has 182,000 troops. The government plans to add 20,000 soldiers next year and reach 260,000 by the early 2030s. They also want 200,000 reservists to meet NATO targets. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to create Europe's strongest conventional army. The plan keeps military service voluntary but allows for compulsory service if needed. Many young Germans oppose the plan. Students across 90 cities are striking, saying, "We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill." In Hamburg, 1,500 protesters are expected, and schools warned parents not to take children out that day. The new law follows similar moves by France, which recently started 10 months of voluntary military training for teens. Germany ended compulsory service in 2011 but now sees a need to rebuild its forces under pressure from NATO and the US. Volunteers could earn about €2,600 monthly, much higher than France's €800. Alongside military changes, the Bundestag is voting on a pensions reform bill crucial to the coalition government. Opposition from younger conservatives exists, but the government avoids crisis as the far-left plans to abstain from voting.