conscription
Loading your saved state.
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
'die Wehrpflicht' and 'der Wehrdienst' are both connected to the military. 'Wehrpflicht' means the legal obligation to do military service. So it is about the rule or obligation. 'Wehrdienst' means the service itself, that is, the period during which someone is trained in or works for the armed forces. Learners may confuse the words because 'Wehrdienst' often results from 'Wehrpflicht'. Memory tip: 'die Wehrpflicht' is the obligation; 'der Wehrdienst' is the actual period of service.
In manchen Ländern gilt die Wehrpflicht für junge Männer und Frauen.
In some countries, conscription applies to young men and women.
Während des Wehrdienstes lernte Paul den Alltag in der Kaserne kennen.
During his military service, Paul got to know everyday life in the barracks.