A recent survey conducted by Shell, a British multinational oil and gas company, indicates that a significant majority of young people in Germany are concerned about the possibility of war in Europe, with the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia cited as the primary reason for their fear. In June, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz approved the country’s new contingency plans for potential war – an update not seen since 1989. These plans include measures like reinstating compulsory military service.
Around the same time as the approval of these new plans, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers that Germany must prepare to be “ready for war” by 2029. He emphasized the importance of expanding the ranks of the Bundeswehr and suggested at least a partial reintroduction of the draft, which was abolished in 2011.
Titled ‘Pragmatism Between Disillusionment and Embracing Diversity,’ the poll by Shell gauged the opinions of 2,509 Germans aged between 12 and 25 on a range of issues, revealing that “fear of war in Europe” was the top concern among young people at 81. Economic concerns and possible rising poverty were the second major concern, expressed by 67% of respondents.
The researchers also noted an increase in interest in politics among young respondents, with 55% saying they are interested in politics compared to 34% in 2002. In January, Pistorius told public broadcaster ZDF that Germany should prepare for a possible war and arm up now. In July, Washington and Berlin agreed that US cruise missiles would be stationed in Germany from 2026, which the German defense chief said would “give us the time that we need” to develop similar weapons domestically.
This development was met with a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who stated that if the United States implements such plans, Russia will consider itself free from the previously adopted moratorium on deploying medium- and short-range strike weapons and would take mirror measures.