GERMAN Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has suspended a ban on male citizens aged 17-45 making lengthy stays abroad without permission from the military.

A clause in the Military Services Modernisation Act, which requires German men to register with the military when reaching adulthood though stops short of compulsory conscription, says that men between those ages should get approval from the Bundeswehr (armed forces) before travelling out of Germany for three months or longer.

But following public uproar Mr Pistorius said on Wednesday that “everyone is, of course, free to travel and does not currently need permission to do so.”

The use of “currently” suggests Berlin may revoke the concession, either if Germany enters a war or it fails to increase the size of the military from 180,000 to 260,000 as planned through voluntary recruitment alone. The government has already indicated it may bring in compulsory conscription if this happens.