Students in Germany protested the military service law and mandatory military service, which came into force on January 1. The law aims to increase the number of soldiers.
Tens of thousands of students participated in the protests at the call of the "School Strike Against Conscription" initiative, formed by various youth and student organizations across the country.
Students gathered in Leopoldplatz in the capital Berlin, then marched towards Gesundbrunnen metro station.
Demonstrators carried placards and banners reading “The rich want war, students want a future,” “Peace without weapons,” “Students against conscription,” “A generation of resistance instead of drone fodder,” and “Vocational training instead of military service.”
In the demonstration, which also included Palestine supporters, slogans such as “Freedom for Palestine,” “German weapons and money commit murder in the world,” “Never again conscription,” “(German Chancellor Friedrich) Merz to the front,” and “Today is not a school day, it’s a strike day” were chanted.
Some students shredded the survey letters they received from the German Armed Forces to determine their motivation and suitability for military service.
Reports in the German press stated that 45,000 people participated in the demonstrations held in approximately 100 cities across the country.
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<The Law Came into Force on January 1
Germany aims to increase its total number of soldiers to 460,000 by 2035 due to threats from Russia and subsequent changes in NATO's plans.
In this context, the law regulating military service, which aims to increase the number of soldiers in the country, came into force on January 1.
According to the law, men will primarily be called up for military service on a voluntary basis. However, if the targeted number of soldiers cannot be reached through voluntary applications, needs-based mandatory military service can be implemented to fill the gap.
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<The German Armed Forces send a survey form to those turning 18 to determine their motivation and suitability for serving in the German army. Additionally, military examination has been made mandatory for men born after January 1, 2008.
Mandatory military service in Germany was suspended in 2011.
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