More than 45,000 schoolchildren took to the streets in around a hundred German cities to protest against the reintroduction of mandatory military service. General conscription was abolished in 2011, but a new law effective January 2026 allows the reinstatement of compulsory service if volunteer numbers fall short.
The "School Strike Against Conscription" actions took place on September 25. The largest demonstrations were held in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Frankfurt am Main, and Stuttgart. In Berlin's Wedding district, police reported around 2,400 participants.
Protesters carried placards with slogans such as "We won't go to your wars" and "We want our brothers alive." Organizers stated they oppose the phased return of mandatory service and demand the abandonment of plans to reintroduce it.
The new military service law came into force in Germany in January 2026. The authorities currently aim to increase the Bundeswehr's strength primarily through volunteers, but if there are insufficient volunteers, the Bundestag could decide to introduce compulsory service.
Under the new rules, 18-year-old men are sent questionnaires about their willingness and desire to serve. Completing the questionnaire is mandatory for men and voluntary for women. Additionally, men must undergo a medical examination to determine fitness for military service.
The mandatory medical examinations have become one of the main triggers of the current protests. Initially, they were planned to start for all 18-year-old men in July 2027, but the German Defense Ministry has already begun sending invitations for examinations since July. Nearly a thousand young men who indicated in their questionnaires that they were not interested in serving have already undergone the medical examination.
The authorities explain the changes by the need to increase the size of the armed forces amid changing NATO requirements and the threat from Russia. General conscription in Germany was suspended in 2011, after which recruitment was on a voluntary basis.
Currently, about 186,700 military personnel serve in the Bundeswehr. By the early 2030s, Germany plans to increase their number to 260,000 and additionally form around 200,000 reservists.
Source: podrobno.uz