German schoolchildren march in opposition to revised military conscription law

Young people across Germany launched coordinated school strikes to protest a new federal law reforming military service, despite the fact that the legislation passed on December 5 does not include a full return to mandatory conscription. Youth organizers say they are determined to raise their voice early and make their resistance unmistakable. Their message is direct: they reject any form of compulsory military service, whether immediate or introduced later.

On the official campaign page, organizers describe their stance in explicitly pacifist language, condemning both militarization and war, as reported by the German Tagesschau.

"We don't want to be locked up for half a year of our lives in barracks, be taught drill and obedience, and learn to kill. War is not a future perspective and destroys our basis of life."

They also argue that young people—those expected to serve—have been systematically excluded from debates that directly affect their future. According to organizers, the generation being asked to prepare for war has had no democratic say in shaping the policy.

The movement has gained support well beyond schools. Peace organizations, labour unions, and the newly formed BSW party have endorsed the strike. Organizers report that approximately 90 local committees have formed in cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne, suggesting that the action is the largest youth mobilization against military reform in Germany in more than a decade.

Federal officials justify the reform as a response to heightened geopolitical risks following Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine which broke out in 2022. Berlin argues that Europe’s changed security environment requires stronger defence capabilities and a larger, more resilient Bundeswehr.

The new law, passed by the Bundestag in a roll-call vote, must still be approved by the Bundesrat (Federal Council), which represents the country's 16 states on a federal level, but is expected to come into force on January 1, 2026.

Compulsory screening of male population

The central element of the reform is a mandatory screening for young men born in 2008 or later. Beginning mid-January, days after the first batch of youngsters reach the age of 18, the government will send questionnaires to assess health, personal background, and willingness to serve.

Men are obligated to respond; women may participate voluntarily. The screening will determine fitness for various military roles. According to the defence ministry, the assessment will measure physical and psychological suitability using tests similar to those already performed on voluntary recruits.

After screening, the government expects to encourage enough volunteers to expand the Bundeswehr to at least 260,000 soldiers — an increase of roughly 80,000. Another 200,000 reservists are also part of the long-term plan.

Official policy documents underline that mandatory service is not currently being reinstated, emphasizing: "Voluntary military service as a special act of civic engagement remains in place." Yet the government has not ruled out conscription. The defence Ministry retains the option to introduce a compulsory service based on need if national security or recruitment shortages require it, in which case the Bundestag would vote on its activation.

For many opponents, this uncertainty is the core issue. Germany temporarily lifted mandatory conscription on March 24, 2011, a decision rooted not in pacifism but in shifting defence priorities.

After the end of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, Germany’s armed forces shifted toward UN and NATO operations abroad, requiring specialized, professional soldiers rather than mass conscripts. Youth protesters argue that returning, even partially, to obligations tied to national warfare represents a step backward for a generation that did not choose conflict and does not believe militarization offers security for the future.

By Nazrin Sadigova