On January 20, 1960, under pressure from pacifists, the “Law on a Civilian Alternative to Military Service for Conscientious Objectors” was enacted. The idea was for this service to be carried out in social and charitable institutions like hospitals. The first recognized conscientious objectors began their alternative service in April 1961. Its name was officially changed to Civilian Service after passage of the “Third Law on Modifying the First Law on the Civilian Alternative to Military Service.” In 1987, there were 88,340 openings for conscientious objectors to perform civil service; 53,800 of these openings were in the area of nursing and elder care.
Source: Original caption (in English): For the last 25 years young men in the Federal Republic of Germany who are liable for military service have been able to perform civil service instead. Although they have no vocational ambitions, they carry out important nursing functions in looking after old people particularly and are very welcome helpers everywhere. Sozial-Report 4-86/Nr. 13. Photo: IN/Jüttner.
Courtesy of the German Information Center