Massive protests in Germany against the reintroduction of mandatory military service

On Friday, tens of thousands of students in Germany took to the streets to protest against the possible reintroduction of mandatory military service. These actions coincided with the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.

Rallies took place in dozens of cities, including Berlin, where approximately 1,200 participants marched from the Brandenburg Gate to the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), carrying signs with messages such as "Education instead of bombs." In Hamburg, organizers reported about 6,000 participants.

The protests are not unique, considering that, in March, around 50,000 young people participated in a similar school strike. The recently adopted law aims at recruiting volunteers for the armed forces, but if recruitment targets are not met, parliament could decide to reintroduce mandatory military service.