Germany to overhaul armed forces

Germany’s armed forces are set to be drastically reduced from 240,000 to 185,000 personnel as part of a radical overhaul approved by the German government on the 15 December 2010.

The German cabinet agreed the reform which will also suspend compulsory service from July 2011. As a result, the last draft will be on 3 January 3 2011.

Deutsche Welle, 3.1.11: Germany's last conscripts report for military service http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14749220,00.html

ESO: Background information: Military: Bundeswehr faces up to the shelving of conscription http://www.europeansources.info/record/military-bundeswehr-faces-up-to-the-shelving-of-conscription/

Deutsche Welle, 15.12.10: Germany to cease drafting military conscripts next month http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6342268,00.html

Tageszeitung, 4.1.11: Auf Wiedersehen citizen's army (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/448081-auf-wiedersehen-citizens-army

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