As young men face new rules forcing them to indicate their readiness to serve, the Bundeswehr drums up support at a trade show

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itting in the cramped interior of a Panzerhaubitze 2000 armoured vehicle, Tom, 20, hangs on every word coming from Achim, an officer with the German military, as he breathlessly talks students through the workings of “the most modern tank in the world”.

“What damage would you expect its ammunition to inflict?” Tom asks.

Achim replies: “A standard round has a range of 30km, and anything within a 100-metre radius of that would be a direct hit,” Achim says. The students exchange surprised glances.