Germany news: Rise in young people refusing military service
What you need to know
- Germany ranked fourth globally in military spending behind the United States, China and Russia
- Military spending by Berlin has risen 24%
- There were 3,867 applications for conscientious objector status in 2025
- A new law on military service is thought to have driven the significant increase
Here are the latest headlines from and about Germany on Monday, April, 27, 2026:
Skip next section Older cyclists most at risk as fatal accidents increase in 2025 — Destatis04/27/2026April 27, 2026Older cyclists most at risk as fatal accidents increase in 2025 — Destatis
The number of cyclists killed in road accidents across Germany rose to 462 in 2025, an increase of 3.8% over the year before, the Federal Statistical Office said on Monday.
The number of cyclist fatalities was up by a whole 20.6% compared with 2015, according to the figures, a rise that is attributed to there being ever more e-bike users.
Around 217 of the deaths in 2025 involved e-bikes, up from just 36 a decade earlier.
The statistics suggested that older cyclists are more at risk of dying in a road accident, with 61.5% of those killed in 2025 aged 65 or above.
Altogether 51.3% of cyclists involved in fatal accidents in that age group were on pedal bicycles and 61.5% on e-bikes.
Overall, 16.4% of fatal road accidents across Germany in 2025 involved a cyclist, the Wiesbaden-based agency said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CspNSkip next section Berlin trial opens over alleged attack plot04/27/2026April 27, 2026Berlin trial opens over alleged attack plot
A separate trial has begun in Berlin against a young Syrian man accused of planning an attack.
Prosecutors said the 23-year-old faces charges including preparing a serious act of violence, financing terrorism and distributing propaganda for terrorist organizations.
The man had plotted a knife attack on "infidels" and Jews in Berlin, authorities said.
The unidentified man allegedly bought a knife and materials to build explosives off the internet, and looked up content about "martyrdom" and "jihad" on social media platforms like Telegram and TikTok, prosecutors said.
He had allegedly hoped to build an explosive vest for a suicide attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cs4bSkip next section Syrian man faces torture and murder trial in Germany04/27/2026April 27, 2026Syrian man faces torture and murder trial in Germany
A Syrian man is appearing in court in Germany, accused of torture, brutal interrogations and the deaths of dozens of detainees.
Prosecutors say the 48-year-old is appearing before the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, charged with 70 counts of murder and crimes against humanity.
He is accused of working as a guard at a Syrian intelligence prison in Damascus in 2011 and 2012, where he allegedly took part in interrogations involving abuse and torture.
Prosecutors allege detainees were subjected to electric shocks and beatings, with at least 70 dying as a result of the violence and harsh detention conditions.
The defendant has been in pretrial detention since his arrest in May 2025.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cs4NSkip next section Russia summons German ambassador over terror allegations04/27/2026April 27, 2026Russia summons German ambassador over terror allegations
Russia has summoned Germany's ambassador over alleged contacts between German politicians and terrorist groups.
Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff was called to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow for a meeting at 11 a.m. local time, his office said. No details about the accusations were provided. Lambsdorff said he would attend.
"I will, of course, comply with the summons. I consider it unlikely that the Russian side will be able to substantiate its allegations," Lambsdorff said in advance, according to a spokesperson.
Further information was expected after the meeting. Relations between Germany and Russia have been strained for years.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cs1aSkip next section Conscientious objection requests rise in Germany04/27/2026April 27, 2026Conscientious objection requests rise in Germany
Applications for conscientious objection have continued to rise in Germany, according to a report, amid a tense security environment and the introduction of a new military service law.
The reform, which took effect in January, introduces mandatory screening for young men born in 2008 or later, aimed at boosting voluntary military recruitment. Parliament would be able to activate compulsory service if recruitment targets are missed.
The news comes a day after Bavarian state premier Markus Söder called for the reintroduction of compulsory military conscription.
The newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung reported that 2,656 people applied in the first quarter of the year, citing data from the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions.
By comparison, there were 2,998 applications in all of 2024 and 3,867 in 2025, according to government data. If the trend continues, 2026 could see the highest level since conscription was suspended in 2011.
At the same time, some applicants have reversed earlier decisions. There were 781 such cases last year and 233 in the first quarter of this year.
Germany seeks to recruit 80,000 more active soldiers
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CrmISkip next section German defense spending jumps 24% in 202504/27/2026April 27, 2026German defense spending jumps 24% in 2025
Germany’s military spending has surged by more than a fifth, reaching €97 billion (about $114 billion) in 2025.
A report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says the 24% increase made Germany the world's fourth-largest defense spender. Global military spending hit a record high in 2025.
Only China, Russia and the United States are spending more. Globally, military expenditure rose 2.9% to about $2.89 trillion. SIPRI said the main driver was a 14% increase in Europe, marking the fastest annual growth in Central and Western Europe since the end of the Cold War.
Germany has now recorded three straight years of double-digit growth, spending 2.3% of GDP on defense — exceeding NATO's 2% benchmark for the first time since 1990. Berlin aims to raise that to 3.5% by 2029. European NATO members together spent $559 billion in 2025.
German Defense Minister Pistorius on new military spending
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CrllSkip next section Welcome to our coverage04/27/2026April 27, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Louis Oelofse EditorGuten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.
You join us amid news that Germany was fourth in the world in terms of military spending last year, according to the research institute SIPRI.
At the same time, amid talk of possible military conscription, there was an uptick in the number of young Germans listing themselves as conscientious objectors.
For these and more of the latest stories out of Germany, stick with us right here.
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