As many as 45.000 students demonstrated against the possible introduction of military conscription in Germany as part of the "School strike against conscription" initiative
In many cities Germany on Friday there were protests of thousands student against the possible introduction of mandatory military service. Organizers from the "School strike against conscription" alliance called for demonstrations across Germany and said:
"We don't want to be forced into conscription and we don't want to go to war. We will continue the fight against conscription and militarization." Incijatvie's website says: "The rich want war, the youth want the future."
Under the slogan "No to conscription, civil service and war", the current school strike was directed against speculation about the possible introduction of civil service, as well as against the Bundeswehr military exercise "Red Storm Charlie", which takes place in Hamburg from Thursday to Saturday, September 26. writes DW.
Organizers announced that more than 45.000 students took to the streets in about 100 cities across the country.
The police published data only for certain demonstrations: 2.400 people demonstrated in Berlin's Wedding district; there were 180 in Frankfurt, 200 in Stuttgart, 400 in Nuremberg, and 700 in Munich. In Hamburg, several hundred people gathered near the main train station.
According to the organizers, the Ministry of Defense confirmed on September 18 that the first medical and recruitment examinations of 18-year-old men will be conducted from July.
"Among them are more than 1.000 who indicated zero out of ten points in the Bundeswehr questionnaire when it comes to interest in military service," criticized the organizers.
"First the questionnaires, now the announced forced conscription, which was actually not supposed to start before July 2027. The federal government seriously intends to gradually introduce military conscription. The answers to the questionnaires show that young people do not want to join the Bundeswehr," Bela Breitner, spokesperson for the "School strike against conscription" initiative, told the German news agency DPA.
The students who participated in the action expressed their concern. They believe that investments in the Bundeswehr take money away from where it is really needed: in education and the social sector.
"Of course, we are especially concerned that at least half a year will be taken away from us in order to be taught how to shoot at people and how to, if necessary, kill people. We need to be trained to serve interests that are not ours," said sixteen-year-old Elias in Hamburg.
According to the organizers, the "School strike against conscription" movement opposes every step towards the re-introduction of conscription and other forms of forced service. The withdrawal of the Law on the Modernization of the Military Service and the immediate suspension of recruitment examinations are demanded.
The new law on military service in Germany came into effect in January 2026. At its core is a mandatory medical examination and filling in a questionnaire for men born in 2008 and later. This is how volunteers are recruited.
If the set goals are not achieved, the Bundestag can decide on the introduction of mandatory military service.
The goal of the new Law on Military Service is to increase the number of active soldiers of the Bundeswehr to between 255.000 and 270.000 by 2035.
This year, the Bundeswehr achieved its minimum personnel goal of 186.000 soldiers. As of July 31, there were about 186.700 men and women in the troops, the Ministry of Defense announced in August. This is the largest number of soldiers in the last 13 years.
The Bundestag suspended mandatory military service in 2011.
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