Germans have not as yet decided whether conscription should be abolished, DPA reported on Saturday.

According to a survey conducted by the Emnid polling service, 43% of Germans would like to see the end of compulsory military service, while 51% would like to retain it.

Emnid interviewed about 1,000 people at the end of July. A recent survey carried out by the Leipzig Institute for Market Research came to a similar conclusion.

The German Defense Ministry is considering downsizing the Armed Forces from 252,000 to either 205,000 or 170,000 troops. The second option would mean abandoning conscription.

Saxony state premier Stanislaw Tillich, of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told Hamburger Abendblatt on Saturday he was against ending conscription.

"The constant exchange between people in military service and society is of central importance," he said.

He said a completely professional military would have no connection with the German population, adding, "On top of this, conscription can inspire young people to join the army."

BERLIN, July 31 (RIA Novosti)