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The last German conscripts take their solemn vows Badge

The last German conscripts take their solemn vows

The last German conscripts take their solemn vows
Mar 16 2011
One of the last swearing-in ceremonies for conscripts on 3 February 2011 (Photo: Bundeswehr/Michael Mandt)

Compulsory military service in Germany is suspended

Conscription had been a feature of life for all young German men in both the West (since 1956) and East (after 1962), and the practice continued even after the end of the Cold War. In 2011, a new government decided that compulsory military service was no longer necessary to the defence of the state. Whilst the possibility of forcing men to serve in the armed forces remains on the statute books, it will not be activated until the need arises. The swearing-in ceremony held for conscripts on 16 March 2011 has not been repeated since.

Men and women hoping to gain a taste of life in the military can still sign up for short service – between seven and 23 months – as a member of the rank and file.

German Reunification
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The whole year at a glance

“Marshal Forward” crosses the Rhine “Marshal Forward” crosses the Rhine
Jan 1 1814
“Marshal Forward” crosses the Rhine
Does gymnastics endanger the state? Does gymnastics endanger the state?
Jan 2 1820
Does gymnastics endanger the state?
Expulsion of Martin Luther from the Church Expulsion of Martin Luther from the Church
Jan 3 1521
Expulsion of Martin Luther from the Church
Publication of the first issue of Der Spiegel Publication of the first issue of Der Spiegel
Jan 4 1947
Publication of the first issue of Der Spiegel
Start of the Spartacus Uprising Start of the Spartacus Uprising
Jan 5 1919
Start of the Spartacus Uprising
Origin of the TÜV Origin of the TÜV
Jan 6 1866
Origin of the TÜV
Birth of the telephone inventor Birth of the telephone inventor
Jan 7 1834
Birth of the telephone inventor
Holidays for all! Holidays for all!
Jan 8 1963
Holidays for all!
A travesty of justice A travesty of justice
Jan 9 1738
A travesty of justice
Promulgation of the Golden Bull Promulgation of the Golden Bull
Jan 10 1356
Promulgation of the Golden Bull
Allied occupation of the Ruhr Allied occupation of the Ruhr
Jan 11 1923
Allied occupation of the Ruhr
The Herero Uprising in German South West Africa The Herero Uprising in German South West Africa
Jan 12 1904
The Herero Uprising in German South West Africa
“The theatre resembled a madhouse” “The theatre resembled a madhouse”
Jan 13 1782
“The theatre resembled a madhouse”
Return after 11 years Return after 11 years
Jan 14 1956
Return after 11 years
“The sale of our children” “The sale of our children”
Jan 15 1776
“The sale of our children”
The Great Drowning The Great Drowning
Jan 16 1362
The Great Drowning
Holy Roman Empire vs. Prussia Holy Roman Empire vs. Prussia
Jan 17 1757
Holy Roman Empire vs. Prussia
Imperial proclamation in Versailles Imperial proclamation in Versailles
Jan 18 1871
Imperial proclamation in Versailles
Votes for women! Votes for women!
Jan 19 1919
Votes for women!
The Perpetual Diet of Regensburg The Perpetual Diet of Regensburg
Jan 20 1663
The Perpetual Diet of Regensburg
You’re in the Army Now You’re in the Army Now
Jan 21 1957
You’re in the Army Now
Hereditary enemies bury the hatchet Hereditary enemies bury the hatchet
Jan 22 1963
Hereditary enemies bury the hatchet
Discovery of X-rays Discovery of X-rays
Jan 23 1896
Discovery of X-rays
Foundation of the Stasi Foundation of the Stasi
Jan 24 1950
Foundation of the Stasi
King vs. Pope: the investiture controversy King vs. Pope: the investiture controversy
Jan 25 1077
King vs. Pope: the investiture controversy
Emma fights for women’s rights Emma fights for women’s rights
Jan 26 1977
Emma fights for women’s rights
The liberation of Auschwitz The liberation of Auschwitz
Jan 27 1945
The liberation of Auschwitz
An innovation in engine construction An innovation in engine construction
Jan 28 1897
An innovation in engine construction
The birth of the motor car The birth of the motor car
Jan 29 1886
The birth of the motor car
The Nazi “seizure of power” The Nazi “seizure of power”
Jan 30 1933
The Nazi “seizure of power”
The rich are more equal than others The rich are more equal than others
Jan 31 1850
The rich are more equal than others
Schleswig and Holstein “up ewig ungedeelt” Schleswig and Holstein “up ewig ungedeelt”
Feb 1 1864
Schleswig and Holstein “up ewig ungedeelt”
The establishment of the Holy Roman Empire The establishment of the Holy Roman Empire
Feb 2 962
The establishment of the Holy Roman Empire
The “Man of the Millennium” is dead The “Man of the Millennium” is dead
Feb 3 1468
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The last Carolingian on the royal throne The last Carolingian on the royal throne
Feb 4 900
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The last death on the Berlin Wall The last death on the Berlin Wall
Feb 5 1989
The last death on the Berlin Wall
A symbol of the DDR disappears A symbol of the DDR disappears
Feb 6 2006
A symbol of the DDR disappears
Treaty of Maastricht Treaty of Maastricht
Feb 7 1992
Treaty of Maastricht
The death of Max Liebermann The death of Max Liebermann
Feb 8 1935
The death of Max Liebermann
Theocracy in Münster Theocracy in Münster
Feb 9 1534
Theocracy in Münster
The first Rose Monday procession in Cologne The first Rose Monday procession in Cologne
Feb 10 1823
The first Rose Monday procession in Cologne
Schoolchildren on the home front Schoolchildren on the home front
Feb 11 1943
Schoolchildren on the home front
Melody of the German national anthem premiered Melody of the German national anthem premiered
Feb 12 1797
Melody of the German national anthem premiered
The destruction of Dresden The destruction of Dresden
Feb 13 1945
The destruction of Dresden
The Strasbourg Oaths The Strasbourg Oaths
Feb 14 842
The Strasbourg Oaths
A new era in German public transport A new era in German public transport
Feb 15 1902
A new era in German public transport
Storm surge in Hamburg Storm surge in Hamburg
Feb 16 1962
Storm surge in Hamburg
Death of Heinrich Heine Death of Heinrich Heine
Feb 17 1856
Death of Heinrich Heine
West Germany’s last execution West Germany’s last execution
Feb 18 1949
West Germany’s last execution
The Hanau massacre The Hanau massacre
Feb 19 2020
The Hanau massacre
East German citizenship East German citizenship
Feb 20 1967
East German citizenship
Die „Hölle von Verdun“ Die „Hölle von Verdun“
Feb 21 1916
Die „Hölle von Verdun“
Execution of the Scholl siblings Execution of the Scholl siblings
Feb 22 1943
Execution of the Scholl siblings
Nebra Sky Disc recovered Nebra Sky Disc recovered
Feb 23 2002
Nebra Sky Disc recovered
The birth of the NSDAP The birth of the NSDAP
Feb 24 1920
The birth of the NSDAP
Millions of Germans get new rulers Millions of Germans get new rulers
Feb 25 1803
Millions of Germans get new rulers
Mass murder of Sinti and Roma Mass murder of Sinti and Roma
Feb 26 1943
Mass murder of Sinti and Roma
Deportation of the last German Jews and the Rosenstraße protest in Berlin Deportation of the last German Jews and the Rosenstraße protest in Berlin
Feb 27 1943
Deportation of the last German Jews and the Rosenstraße protest in Berlin
On the road to dictatorship On the road to dictatorship
Feb 28 1933
On the road to dictatorship
The foundation of the Treuhand The foundation of the Treuhand
Mar 1 1990
The foundation of the Treuhand
The destruction of Heidelberg The destruction of Heidelberg
Mar 2 1689
The destruction of Heidelberg
Violence in Berlin Violence in Berlin
Mar 3 1919
Violence in Berlin
Frederick Barbarossa elected German King Frederick Barbarossa elected German King
Mar 4 1152
Frederick Barbarossa elected German King
The last election before the descent into dictatorship The last election before the descent into dictatorship
Mar 5 1933
The last election before the descent into dictatorship
The “Greens” in the German Federal Parliament for the first time The “Greens” in the German Federal Parliament for the first time
Mar 6 1983
The “Greens” in the German Federal Parliament for the first time
The formation of the Free German Youth (FDJ) The formation of the Free German Youth (FDJ)
Mar 7 1946
The formation of the Free German Youth (FDJ)
Women’s Day declared a public holiday in Berlin Women’s Day declared a public holiday in Berlin
Mar 8 2021
Women’s Day declared a public holiday in Berlin
Black, red and gold are established as the colours of the German Confederation Black, red and gold are established as the colours of the German Confederation
Mar 9 1848
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A missed chance for reunification? A missed chance for reunification?
Mar 10 1952
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The state is responsible for schools! The state is responsible for schools!
Mar 11 1872
The state is responsible for schools!
The Anschluss of Austria The Anschluss of Austria
Mar 12 1938
The Anschluss of Austria
Government forced to flee Berlin Government forced to flee Berlin
Mar 13 1920
Government forced to flee Berlin
The two Germanies open unofficial embassies The two Germanies open unofficial embassies
Mar 14 1974
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Germany is sovereign once more Germany is sovereign once more
Mar 15 1991
Germany is sovereign once more
The last German conscripts take their solemn vows The last German conscripts take their solemn vows
Mar 16 2011
The last German conscripts take their solemn vows
“To my people”
Today
“To my people”
Mar 17 1813
“To my people”
Death on the barricades
Mar 18
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Hitler’s “Nero Order”
Mar 19 1945
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The German Peasants’ War
Mar 20 1525
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The Day of Potsdam
Mar 21 1933
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Grown up at 18!
Mar 22 1974
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The Enabling Act abolishes the separation of powers
Mar 23 1933
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Potatoes for all!
Mar 24 1756
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The foundation of the European Community
Mar 25 1957
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The EU achieves free movement
Mar 26 1995
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A new constitution
Mar 27 1849
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Formation of the Society for German Colonization
Mar 28 1884
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Bourgeois women of the world unite!
Mar 29 1894
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The fight against pollution begins
Mar 30 1971
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Happy birthday Johann Sebastian Bach!
Mar 31 1685
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