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Germany witnessed large-scale student protests on Friday across nearly 90 cities against the new military service law passed by the Bundestag, aimed at increasing troop numbers.
Over 3,000 students gathered near Hallesches Tor metro station in Berlin before marching to Urania Square, joined by many parents supporting their children.
Protesters carried banners reading “Vocational training instead of war,” “You go to the front,” and “Joining the army is not my priority.”
Demonstrations took place in cities including Potsdam, Cottbus, Hamburg, Cologne, Essen, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Stuttgart, Ulm, Tübingen, and Heidelberg.
The conservative CDU, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, initially sought to reintroduce a lottery-based conscription for men but faced opposition from its coalition partner, the SPD. Eventually, the government agreed on a non-compulsory model.
The new law allows all men aged 18 to apply for at least six months of military service, while women may volunteer.
This legislation marks a step toward reinstating conscription nearly 15 years after its abolition, starting with voluntary service and becoming mandatory if the Defense Ministry fails to recruit enough volunteers.
The government aims to expand the army from 183,000 soldiers today to 270,000 active troops plus 200,000 reservists by 2035.
Sources - Agencies
