Germany's coalition government has agreed a new military service plan to boost troop numbers following months of wrangling between political forces.
The new military service plan will mandate all 18-year-old men to fill out a questionnaire on their suitability to serve and, from 2027, to undergo medical screening.
The decision comes as Berlin aims to create Europe's strongest conventional army.
The boss of Germany's biggest defence firm, Rheinmetall, has told the BBC he believes that target could be met in five years.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the plan by the end of 2025.
Armin Papperger said Chancellor Friedrich Merz's aim to boost the Bundeswehr was realistic and he told the BBC that clear decisions were coming from government.
Earlier this year, German defence chief Gen Carsten Breuer warned that the Western NATO alliance had to prepare for a possible Russian attack within four years.
Mr. Papperger said he had no glass ball about the future but agreed Germany had to be ready in '29.
The Bundeswehr currently has around 182,000 troops. The new military service model aims to increase that number by 20,000 over the next year, rising to between 255,000 and 260,000 over the next 10 years, supplemented by approximately 200,000 reservists.
From next year, all 18-year-old men and women will be sent a questionnaire to assess their interest and willingness to join the armed forces. It will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.
From July 2027, all men aged 18 will also have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for duty.
If the government's targets are not met, a form of compulsory enlistment could be considered by parliament. If war were to break out, the military would be able to draw on the questionnaires and medical exams for potential recruits.
Some within Germany's political left remain deeply opposed to mandatory service.
Many young Germans are wary and a significant majority oppose it. A recent Forsa survey for Stern magazine suggested while just over half of respondents favoured compulsory service, opposition rose to 63% among 18- to 29-year-olds.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has sought to reassure Germans, saying that despite the new military service plan there was no cause for concern... no reason for fear.
He emphasized that a more capable armed forces could deter conflict rather than escalate it.
The move reflects a broader change in Germany's military posture, which has been cautious about re-arming since WWII but has now made a decisive shift in response to geopolitical tensions.
