Thousands of people are demonstrating nationwide against conscription and military drafts

Thousands of young people demonstrated across the country against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service and the new compulsory military service. The “School strike against compulsory military service” initiative involved over 45,000 students in around 100 cities across Germany.

According to police in Berlin, 2,400 demonstrators

The police only published figures for individual demonstrations: in Berlin-Wedding, for example, 2,400 people demonstrated; In Frankfurt there were 180, in Stuttgart 200, in Nuremberg 400 and in Munich 700 demonstrators. In Hamburg, several hundred people gathered near the main train station. Concrete figures from the police were initially not available.

Press spokesman Bela Breitner from “School Strike Against Conscription” said that the federal government was serious about gradually introducing compulsory military service. The feedback from the questionnaires shows that young people did not want to join the Bundeswehr.

The law on the new military service came into force in January. The core is the mandatory muster for young men born in 2008 and above. This is intended to recruit volunteers to expand the force. If the target corridors are not met, the Bundestag can decide on compulsory military service. The Bundestag suspended compulsory military service in 2011.

The Bundeswehr and the federal government are relying on voluntary military service for the new military service. The aim of the new military service law is to increase the number of active Bundeswehr soldiers to 255,000 to 270,000 by 2035.