conscription
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conscription
The legal obligation for citizens of a state to serve in the armed forces for a certain period of time.
In Deutschland wurde die Wehrpflicht im Jahr 2011 ausgesetzt.
In Germany, conscription was suspended in 2011.
The word is made up of 'Wehr' (defense) and 'Pflicht' (duty). So it literally means the 'duty to defend' the country.
Die Debatte über die Wehrpflicht ist in vielen Ländern aktuell.
The debate about conscription is current in many countries.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with 'Wehrpflicht' (conscription): you can 'einführen' (introduce), 'aussetzen' (suspend), or 'abschaffen' (abolish) conscription.
Die Regierung plant, die Wehrpflicht wieder einzuführen.
The government plans to reintroduce conscription.
If you want to say that someone is subject to conscription, you use the construction 'der Wehrpflicht unterliegen' (to be subject to conscription). The noun is in the dative here.
Junge Männer unterlagen früher der allgemeinen Wehrpflicht.
Young men used to be subject to general conscription.
military service
Both words relate to military service, but Wehrpflicht refers to the legal obligation to serve. Wehrdienst, on the other hand, is the service actually performed and can also be voluntary. Use Wehrpflicht when talking about the state-imposed obligation and Wehrdienst when talking about the specific period of service in the armed forces.
Wegen der Wehrpflicht musste er nach der Schule für eine bestimmte Zeit dienen.
Because of conscription, he had to serve for a certain period after finishing school.
Sein Wehrdienst bei den Streitkräften dauerte nach der Schule fast ein Jahr.
His military service in the armed forces lasted almost a year after he finished school.
