The business daily quoted figures from the German Defence Ministry, which showed only 54.9 of the 451,300 men conscripted to do military service in the Bundeswehr in 2007 percent were deemed physically and mentally able to do so. A record 41.9 percent were considered unfit and at least 3 percent were temporarily not able to serve.
Critics of Germany’s compulsory military service argue the figures are more political than realistic. By statistically removing so many men from the pool of candidates, German officials are supposedly trying to keep conscription from appearing unfair.
“In the rest of Europe the unfit rate is on average eight to 12 perecent. Why should only Germany be so different,” said Peter Tobiassen, the director of a conscientious objector group.
DPA/DDP
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