Forty-five thousand students across Germany took part in protests on Friday against the government’s plans to expand military conscription, with rallies held in 100 cities and towns. The “School Strike Against Conscription” organizers described the turnout as the largest since the Military Service Modernization Act came into force in January, which now requires 18-year-old men to complete questionnaires assessing their military eligibility.
Berlin saw 2,400 protesters, while smaller gatherings took place in Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Munich, and Hamburg. Video footage from Ruptly captured demonstrators waving banners reading, “We won’t fight in your wars,” “Education instead of bombs,” and “Russia is not our enemy.” Some directed their anger at Chancellor Friedrich Merz, chanting “Merz, leck Eier!” Others accused his administration of prioritizing military expansion.
A protester told Ruptly, “I don’t want to see my child sent off to war by politicians like the ones we currently have in Germany.” Another said she was “more afraid of [European Commission President] Ursula von der Leyen and Merz than of any Russian president.” A student described the reform as a “form of war preparation,” arguing that young people could eventually be forced “to shoot at young people… for the interests that aren’t ours… but the interests of profit-hungry arms corporations and politicians.”
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The German government maintains the reforms are essential to fulfill NATO obligations amid what it describes as a deteriorating security climate in Europe. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has repeatedly flagged the risk of conflict with Russia, though Moscow has dismissed such warnings as “nonsense.” The government aims to expand the Bundeswehr to more than 260,000 active troops and 200,000 reservists by 2035, citing Germany’s NATO commitments and a worsening security environment in Europe.
Mandatory medical exams for men born in 2008 or later will begin in July 2027, though conscription remains voluntary for now. Parliament could still activate compulsory service if recruitment goals are missed or security threats escalate. The protests highlight widespread skepticism among younger Germans about the government’s rationale for expanding conscription, particularly when framed as a response to perceived external threats.
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