military service
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military service
Legally required or voluntary service in a country's armed forces. It includes military training and deployment for national defense.
Mein Großvater musste nach der Schule seinen Wehrdienst bei der Bundeswehr leisten.
After school, my grandfather had to do his military service in the Bundeswehr.
The word is made up of 'Wehr' and 'Dienst'. 'Wehr' comes from the verb 'sich wehren' (to defend oneself), and 'Dienst' means 'service'. So it is literally a 'defense service'.
Der Wehrdienst soll junge Bürger auf die Landesverteidigung vorbereiten.
Military service is intended to prepare young citizens for national defense.
The most common verb combination is 'den Wehrdienst leisten' or 'ableisten' (to do military service). If someone is forced into service, you say they are 'zum Wehrdienst eingezogen' (drafted for military service).
Er hat seinen Wehrdienst bei der Marine geleistet.
He did his military service in the navy.
For a long time, Germany had 'Wehrpflicht' (compulsory military service), which was suspended in 2011. However, the topic remains politically and socially relevant.
Viele Väter und Großväter in Deutschland mussten noch den Wehrdienst leisten.
Many fathers and grandfathers in Germany still had to do military service.
service / duty
'der Dienst' and 'der Wehrdienst' can both mean work or service for a state organization. Here, 'Dienst' is much more general and can also refer to the police, administration, or the military. 'Wehrdienst' is more precise: it means service in the armed forces, with military training and national defense. Learners may confuse the words because both contain 'Dienst'. When it is clearly about the military and mandatory or voluntary time in the armed forces, 'Wehrdienst' is more precise. 'Dienst' on its own needs more context.
Nach der Schule hat Paul freiwillig Wehrdienst geleistet.
After school, Paul did voluntary military service.
Mein Kollege ist heute im Dienst und nimmt am Telefon die Notrufe an.
My colleague is on duty today and is taking emergency calls on the phone.