In the army, again? 80 years after the Holocaust, Germany’s Jews consider conscription

Eighty years after the Holocaust, Germany's Jewish community is re-evaluating its relationship with the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, amid a national push for renewed conscription. Historically, Jewish service in the German military was unthinkable due to the Wehrmacht's role in the Holocaust. However, Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, now advocates for Jews to "do their part" for a democratic Germany. This shift is partly influenced by the establishment of a military rabbinate in 2021 and the perspective of Jews from the former Soviet Union, who constitute 90% of the community and often have ancestors who fought the Nazis. Lieutenant Levi, a Jewish soldier, exemplifies this new perspective, stating, "The Bundeswehr does not stand in the tradition of National Socialism." The war in Ukraine has further propelled this change, with many, like journalist Anna Zhukovets, advocating for a strong Bundeswehr as protection against threats. However, some young Jews, like Daniel, remain critical, citing personal experiences of antisemitism and the Bundeswehr's perceived insufficient break from its Nazi past, preferring service in the IDF.