Kriegsdienstverweigerung (KDV)

languages

Refusal of military service in Germany

Words

German	English
Kriegsdienstverweigerung/KDV	`conscientious objection`/ Refusal of military service
Bundeswehr	Military

KDV

Kriegsdienstverweigerung (KDV)

Krieg = war
s = grammatical
Dienst = service
Verweigerung = Refusal

Warning

Before we start: Get legal advice. Inform yourself. Laws change constantly. This website is a helpful resource, not legal advice. I am not a legal advisor. Use at your own risk.

Whether you can submit the KDV (conscientious objection) application in English, I cannot say. Consult a legal advisor.

Inform yourself independently. It is even possible that this information is already outdated.

Introduction

MILITARY SERVICE IS CURRENTLY VOLUNTARY

I structured it this way so that the introduction to Kriegsdienstverweigerung (Refusal of military service) comes first, followed by the rest, because you are likely more interested in the instructions than in the background.

This is not about creating hysteria, but about being prepared.

Kriegsdienstverweigerung (Refusal of military service) is not cowardice, but freedom.

Instructions

0 First, take a breath

1 contacted?
Have you received mail from the Bundeswehr (Military), a Career Center, or any authority regarding military service, examination, or Bereitschaftserklärung (statement of willingness)?

YES:
Proceed to the next step.

NO:
You do not need to take any action at this time.
However, if you are a man between 18 and 45 years old, you are welcome to keep reading and keep this knowledge in mind for a potential emergency.
Do not send an KDV-application early, as this could trigger a conscription examination and put you on the authorities radar.¹
In a state of tension, submit your application IMMEDIATELY (via registered mail).
“Zivilisten, die noch keinen Kontakt mit den Militärbehörden […] haben empfehlen wir nicht den Weg der freiwilligen Musterung als Voraussetzung für den KDV-Antrag […].” ²
Engl. trans. approx.
“Civilians who have not yet had contact with the military authorities […] we do not recommend the path of voluntary conscription examination as a prerequisite for the conscientious objection application […].”

2 Are you affected?
Check here:
https://kdv.dfg-vk.de/
If you are not affected, you do not need to do anything. But you are welcome to send an “angry” email to the government.

3 Money
Set aside money parallel for a legal advisor in case of emergency. Approximately 1000 euros. (Typically, the first consultation with a lawyer costs around 200 euros. And if the situation becomes serious, it can cost more. Therefore, it is better to have more money than too little.) And once everything is settled, you can use the money for yourself.

4 Application

The application must contain the following:

In the cover letter, include this exact statement:
- “Hiermit verweigere ich nach Artikel 4 Absatz 3 des Grundgesetzes aus Gewissensgründen den Kriegsdienst mit der Waffe”
  - engl. “I hereby refuse to perform military service with weapons on grounds of conscience, in accordance with Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law.”
Tabular curriculum vitae (CV)
Begründungsschreiben/Statement of reasons (approx. 1 DIN A4 page, written independently, without AI, honest)

However, avoid the following in your statement of reasons (unless you can personally justify them):

Purely political or religious arguments without a personal or ethical connection
Generic slogans or anecdotes without individual reflection

→ Instead, ask yourself: “How would you feel if you were in a war? What do you truly feel?[…]” (translated into English ) ³

EXAMPLE:

Begründungsschreiben (Statement of Reasons)

This is A example for conscientious objection.
Using a pre-written template will lead to rejection, as the statement will not be personal or authentic.

Write your own statement of reasons.
Adapt it to your real story. You can also attach supporting documents.
For an actual KDV (conscientious objection) case, consult a lawyer or legal advisor.

Optionally, you may write the statement by hand to enhance its authenticity.

EXAMPLE for Begründungsschreiben (Statement of Reasons):

Its translated to English so there it is not guaranteed.

Application for Recognition as a Conscientious Objector pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law
[Your Name, Address, Date]
Federal Office of Bundeswehr Personnel Management
Conscription Authority (Wehrersatzbehörde)
[City, Address]
(Please verify independently where to submit your application.)

I hereby refuse to perform armed military service on grounds of conscience, pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law.

1) My Worldview

I adhere to a humanistic worldview that presupposes the absolute equal value of all people and fundamentally rejects violence as immoral.
[Or provide a different justification]
This conviction prohibits me from any form of violence, as it violates human dignity and is incompatible with my fundamental ethical stance. Therefore, I fundamentally refuse any armed service.

2) How I Developed This Conviction

Early on, through family conflicts and news about wars, I realized that violence is always associated with suffering for me and does not represent an acceptable solution.
I am always deeply moved when I see people suffer and die. In films, they are merely actors, but in real reports on war and violence, I feel compassion and sorrow, to the point that I feel internally co-responsible and guilty.
[Also mention other examples, e.g., documentaries about wars or personal encounters.]

Through intensive reflection on [e.g., Gandhi, humanism, pacifism, modern philosophy, religion], I have developed a firm pacifist stance over [e.g., 3 years or more].
I resolve everyday conflicts through dialogue and other non-violent means. These principles have become my guiding standard.
[In disputes with family members, colleagues, or peers, I always seek conversation or apply other non-violent solutions. Provide additional examples.]

[Provide personal examples. You may also describe other approaches. It must be personal. E.g., “In X conflict, I did Y.”
Ideally: Reference evidence and documentation, such as witness statements that can corroborate your account during an interview.]

3) Why I Cannot Perform Armed Military Service

For me, any form of killing or injuring, directly or indirectly, in any war or conflict is absolutely impossible. Even in “defense” or under orders, I would feel lifelong guilt and my conscience would be destroyed. I could not handle a weapon without permanently burdening my conscience. [Note: If you hold a firearms license, you should use a different formulation here.]

Therefore, I unconditionally refuse any military service involving weapons:
Based on my [e.g., pacifist and humanistic] conviction [or other], I cannot reconcile with my conscience the direct or indirect injuring or killing of a person. Therefore, in any potential war or conflict, I unconditionally reject any participation in armed actions, any service involving weapons, any support role connected to military violence, and any form of military force.

This decision of conscience is absolutely binding and allows for no exceptions.

[Your Name, Signature]

5 Waiting for Confirmation
It will take approximately 1 to 9 months⁴ or more until you receive a response. If your application is rejected, you can submit a new, improved application.

If you are unsure, you can contact the following:

https://kdv.dfg-vk.de/kdv-antrag/

Opinion

Warning

The following section contains our personal, system-critical opinion. We advise against linking this page in official communications with authorities, as they typically reject criticism and expect neutral, factual content only. We have deliberately included this perspective nonetheless, because we believe this system suffers from fundamental flaws.

Opinions

CDU/CSU and SPD call it security.
We call it conscription by coercion.
Women choose. Men comply.
Sexism, codified in law and parliament.

I personally would not vote for SPD or CDU/CSU.

Refuse-to-Murder

Political Parties

Parties

Voted in favor of the “Modernization of Military Service” bill. (And thus strengthened militarism and limited freedom.)

Party	Members of Parliament (MPs)	In Favor	Against	Abstained	Not Participating
🟥CDU/CSU	208	206	0	0	2
🟥SPD	120	117	1	0	2
🟩AfD	151	0	138	0	13
🟩Die Grünen	85	0	77	1	7
🟩Die Linke	64	0	55	0	9
🟩fraktionslos	2	0	1	0	1

SOURCE:
https://www.abgeordnetenwatch.de/bundestag/21/abstimmungen/modernisierung-des-wehrdienstes#poll-content

Equal Rights:

Law:
(3) No person shall be favored or disfavored because of sex, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith, or religious or political opinions. No person shall be disfavored because of disability.

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_3.html

In the military, equal rights are ignored.
We demand equality but pass laws that break it. How can we trust those at the top? If parties have no values, not a single word they say should be believed.

Feminists shout loudly for equal rights.
Feminism gets loud about quotas and language, and silent when it comes to conscription and real emergencies.
On military matters, they fall silent. Why?
It seems it is not about equality for all, but only for women where it suits them. Otherwise, none.
(I have not seen any feminists fighting against the military.)

Final word:

“Equal rights apply, as long as they do not cause inconvenience.”

Whoever registers men as “potential soldiers” but exempts women takes a clear stance:
The male sex is a state resource. Not an individual. Not free.

Voluntary?

In December 2025, CDU/CSU and SPD passed a law that, starting in 2026, obliges all 18-year-old men to complete a military service questionnaire – with fines of up to €1,000. Women? Voluntary.

“Freedom, to this coalition, means: freedom for us, obligation for you.”

It is remarkable with what matter of factness freedom is being renegotiated here, while simultaneously claiming to strengthen democracy.

“We force no one into service.”

But we force him:
To register.
To undergo examination.
To complete the questionnaire.
To be available.

This is what they call “voluntariness with exceptions” or simply “coercion”.

One might think: This is no coincidence, but system.

If it were truly voluntary, the questionnaire would also be voluntary.
Or they would send a letter stating: “Do you want to join the Bundeswehr (military)? If YES, go to website X and answer the questions. Otherwise, ignore this letter.”

Who profits?

Not those who would have to go.
Not those who ask.
But those who decide – and stay behind, while others act.

“Fight. We continue to govern.”

That is what is written in the protocol (law).

Final word:

This is not about military service. It is about killing or being killed. In the worst case, you are shipped off somewhere you did not want to go and never return.⁵

Refusal of military service in Germany

Words

KDV

Warning

Introduction

Instructions

See also:

Opinion

Warning

Opinions

Political Parties

Equal Rights:

Voluntary?

Who profits?

Final word:

See also: