# German students strike against military service

> School strikes spread across Germany as young people protest the possible return of compulsory military service.
- Title: German students strike against military service · BBC News
- Summary: School strikes spread across Germany as young people protest the possible return of compulsory military service. German students are striking against the…
- Keywords: germany, military service, student protests, friedrich merz, bundeswehr, compulsory service, news, world, German, students, strike, against
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxnvlnve52qdo
- Published: 2026-09-25T15:36:22.439+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: germany, military service, student protests, friedrich merz, bundeswehr, compulsory service, news, world
## Students strike across Germany
School strikes are taking place across Germany to protest against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
## Government plans gradual reintroduction
Bela Breitner from School Strike Against Compulsory Military Service said the federal government was serious about gradually reintroducing compulsory military service.

> serious about gradually reintroducing compulsory military service
## Voluntary service law came into force
A new law introducing voluntary military service came into force in January, aiming to recruit volunteers. If too few come forward or security worsens, compulsory service could be considered.
## Young people reject military service
Sixteen-year-old Elias Bernhard from Hamburg said questionnaire responses show young people do not want to join the Bundeswehr. He vowed to strike until compulsory military service is off the table.

> We will carry on
## Medical exams trigger mass protests
Eighteen-year-olds in Kiel and Flensburg received medical exam invitations despite expressing no interest in the army. The Defence Ministry says around one thousand eighteen-year-old men have had the exam since July.
## Germany aims for 260,000 troops by early 2030s
Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe's strongest conventional army. Germany currently has around one hundred eighty-six thousand seven hundred troops and aims to raise this to two hundred sixty thousand by the early twenty thirty-ies.
## Key takeaway

German students are striking against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service, which the government may consider if volunteer recruitment fails.