6 Dec, 2025 11:12 HomeWorld News via thefreeonline https://wp.me/pIJl9-HK0
Demonstrators across some 90 cities have denounced the legal change, which lays the groundwork for full conscription being reinstated
Thousands of demonstrators have marched in cities across Germany to protest Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to overhaul the country’s military service system, accusing the government of laying the groundwork for forced mobilization.
On Friday, the German parliament approved changes to the military-service law expanding recruitment and giving Berlin tools to reactivate conscription if volunteer numbers fall short.
Rallies took place in around 90 cities – including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne – both before and after the vote.
Footage showed protesters chanting anti-war slogans and carrying banners reading “No to conscription,” “We will not be cannon fodder” and “Your war – without us.” Protesters slammed the reform as “recruitment of death” and urged investment in education and welfare instead of weapons.
One protester told Ruptly she feared her teenage sons would soon be drafted, while another said: “Merz should go to the front himself and risk his own life.” Some linked the reform to Germany’s broader military buildup, warning that Berlin is preparing for a war against Russia.
German MPs rubberstamp military service
Several speakers argued the law – and the rearmament push overall – serves the interests of major arms companies rather than the public.
Germany abolished compulsory military service in 2011 and moved to an all-volunteer force. But amid a NATO-driven military, Berlin now seeks to expand the Bundeswehr, citing a worsening security environment.
Germany currently has 182,000 active soldiers and just under 50,000 reservists.
Last month, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed Russia could attack a NATO member “as early as 2028,” using the warning to press for sweeping rearmament.
According to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, since the war began in 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have witnessed more than 250,000 desertions.
Merz approval rating hits record low of only 22% Since entering office, Merz has pushed for increased militarization and has vowed to transform the German Armed Forces into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” His government’s proposal to reinstate mandatory military service, has been met with opposition and calls for protests. Merz has justified the measures by citing the supposed ‘Russian threat’.
Under the new Military Service Modernization Act, all 18-year-old men must register for potential service by completing a questionnaire and undergoing medical screening starting in 2026.
Germany set to boost Ukraine war by 3 billion euros in 2026 4 Nov 2025 — Germany is Europe’s largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, having provided around 40 billion euros. (40,000,000,000 euros )
The reform stops short of reinstating full conscription but creates the legal basis for draft call-ups via lottery if voluntary recruitment falls short.
Critics say Berlin is relying on fear-based scenarios to force through unpopular measures and justify massive military spending.
Younger Germans are especially opposed: a recent Forsa survey for Stern found that 63% of adults aged 18 to 29 reject compulsory service.
Russia has dismissed claims that it plans to attack NATO as “nonsense,” calling them an excuse for inflated military budgets and a way to distract the public from domestic problems.
TRANSLATION OF TWEET.. The residents of Odessa arrived to help those being mobilized. A crowd attacked the military commissar’s car, smashing windows with crowbars and dragging people out. When the TCC employee protested, they began telling him to go to the front himself.Ukrainians mob vehicle to free men captured by draft officers (VIDEO on X)
.—There have also been reports of injuries, torture, and deaths among those subject to forced mobilization, fueling public outrage and sparking protests. In October, the Ukrainian authorities urged people not to film or share videos of press gangs forcibly detaining men. The exodus from Kiev’s armed forces is mounting. More than 21,000 soldiers deserted without leave in September alone – the highest monthly total since the start of the Ukraine conflict. According to a report by BBC…
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