Armin Papperger, CEO of German defence industry giant Rheinmetall, sees growing willingness among young people to serve their country following the government's controversial shift this year towards reinstating military conscription.
"Germany, and young people in particular, have realized that a country without defence capabilities cannot be secure or survive," said Papperger amid an intense debate surrounding the new law on military service which came into effect on January 1.
Papperger, 63, believes the discussion on ensuring Germany's defence through the current softer approach to recruitment is appropriate. "But I think it will be difficult to achieve this on a voluntary basis," he added in a recent interview with dpa.
While the recruitment figures of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces are positive, they are not sufficient, said Papperger.
At the core of the new law is the introduction of mandatory medical screening for men born in 2008 or later. The aim is to recruit volunteers to expand the armed forces. If the target ranges are not met, the German parliament can decide on so-called "conscription based on need."
According to the Defence Ministry in Berlin, the number of applications to the Bundeswehr has risen by 24% since January - to around 38,500 - after the Military Service Act came into effect.
The government is already preparing to reactivate civilian service in the event of a return to conscription. "Serving society is certainly something that can't hurt," agrees Papperger.
Conscription in Germany was suspended in 2011, which also brought an end to civilian alternative service for young men who refused to serve in the Bundeswehr on conscientious grounds.
Interest in jobs in the defence sector far exceeds the number of applicants to the Bundeswehr. Rheinmetall, the country's largest defence contractor, is inundated with applications. In Germany alone, the company says it currently receives almost 23,000 applications per month.
Last year, a total of 232,000 applications were received in Germany, and 360,000 worldwide. The company currently employs about 34,000 people.
Nearly 1,000 people work at Rheinmetall's Dusseldorf headquarters, half of whom are around 30 years old or younger, Papperger said: "And these are all highly motivated people who are committed to their work."
Rheinmetall's administrative headquarters are located in the western German city, while its largest plant is located in Unterlüß in the state of Lower Saxony.