germany yesterday announced suspension of conscription by July 2011: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service ht

germany yesterday announced suspension of conscription by July 2011: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-... "The military was founded in 1955, and conscription – introduced two years later – has been seen as a necessary means to ensure the defence forces maintain a close relationship to civil society in order to prevent a repeat of the way in which the Nazi party was able to manipulate professional soldiers in the 1930s. But experts say it has prevented the military's modernisation."