With the end of conscription, Germany stopped the registration of 18-year-olds for military service, leaving the country without a reliable data base on whom it could call up.

The aim of the new law is to once again have an overview of those figures: Under the model proposed, all men turning 18 - about roughly 300,000 next year - will have to fill out a digital survey on their interest in joining the army.

Young women will also be sent the survey but are not obliged to respond.