Reject Conscription, German Students Stage School Walkout Again
On Thursday, young people gathered at Potsdamer Platz, the heart of Berlin, to stage a long march opposing the government’s plans for conscription. Police put the number of participants in Berlin at about 3,000, while organisers claimed 6,000 demonstrators in the German capital and a total of 50,000 people across more than 130 towns and villages nationwide.
“I don’t want to risk my life for my friends, relatives, or acquaintances, in the worst-case scenario,” said Shmuel Schatz, 17, spokesman for the School Walkout Committee, to DW. “What happens is that people are sent to the battlefield for the benefit of big companies like Rheinmetall, ThyssenKrupp, and others, so they can hoard wealth from war.”
The German government introduced a new military service law in December 2025. Under this law, all young men turning 18 this year will receive a questionnaire asking about their motivation and suitability to join the army, while providing information on how to become a volunteer in the German Bundeswehr. Completing this questionnaire is mandatory for all men.
Germany needs more soldiers.
“Those who join voluntarily can fight for this, though there are challenges. But people must not be forced. Coercion is never the solution,” said Kiran Schrmann, 19, another spokesman for the Berlin demonstrators.
If efforts to attract volunteers do not achieve the targets set in the new military act, the government plans to restore the conscription system in full.
The government said last year that it was preparing an “increasing personnel pathway” to reach around 260,000 soldiers—from the current 180,000—plus around 200,000 reservists.
In a military report presented this week, Henning Otte, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed “doubt about the success of the voluntary principle.”
The number of conscientious objectors to military service rose significantly
Many believe conscription cannot be avoided, and peace organisations have noted a rise in requests for information on how to refuse military service on conscientious grounds. The German Constitution affirms citizens’ right not to join the military, and various counselling services are available for objectors.
The number of conscientious objectors in Germany rose sharply in 2025. According to the Federal Family Affairs Office (BAFzA), there were 3,867 applications last year, up 72% from the previous year.
Germany has had a national compulsory military service for decades, with an option for youths to pursue civilian service. This system was suspended in 2011, but can be reactivated if the Bundestag declares a state of emergency or a need for national defense.
To implement this decision, a two-thirds majority in the lower house is required. If a national emergency were declared, men aged 18–60 could theoretically be called up for military service.
The national school walkout on Thursday (5 March) was the second such protest in Germany. In December 2025, around 55,000 people also took to the streets in 90 towns across the country.