Thousands of Germans protest against arms build-up and conscription
Demonstrations in Berlin and Stuttgart show how divided Germany is over expanding the Bundeswehr.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Berlin and Stuttgart on Saturday against higher defence spending and possible conscription. The figures vary widely: police and organisers gave sharply different estimates.
The demonstrations took place under the slogan ‘No to rearmament, conscription and war’. In Berlin, the march travelled from the Brandenburg Gate through the city centre. Thousands of people also gathered in Stuttgart. The actions were organised by several peace and civil-society organisations.
Police estimated the number of participants in Berlin at around 6,000. The organisers spoke of more than 20,000 demonstrators. In Stuttgart, the organisers cited approximately 15,000 participants; no independent total has been established for either city.
The organisers demanded, among other things, an end to arms deliveries and economic sanctions, and called for more money for social services. According to the German regional broadcaster SWR, the organisers faced criticism because some messages were said to insufficiently address Russia’s attack on Ukraine and instead focus mainly on NATO, the German government and military support.
The protests coincide with the introduction of Germany’s ‘new military service’. According to the Bundeswehr, military service has been voluntary since 1 January 2026. Registration and a medical examination are compulsory for German men born in 2008 or later; women can register and undergo an examination voluntarily.
This has created an intermediate model in Germany: the state collects data and examines young people, but does not automatically call them up for military service. The Bundeswehr hopes in this way to attract more personnel, while opponents fear that voluntariness will come under pressure. The debate is relevant to the Netherlands because Germany is an important European defence partner and neighbour.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Thousands of people demonstrated in Berlin and Stuttgart against rearmament and possible conscription.
- Since January 2026, Germany has had a system in which military service is voluntary, but registration and medical examinations are compulsory for certain men.
- Police and organisers give different estimates of the number of participants.
Left
Arguments Higher defence spending must not come at the expense of education, healthcare and social security. Young people should be able to decide for themselves about their future, and military service should not be the automatic solution to personnel problems.
Values The emphasis is on peace, social equality, individual autonomy and international disarmament.
Consequences Rapid militarisation could displace social services, increase inequality and contribute to a spiral of escalation.
Centre
Arguments Germany must be able to organise its defence, but only within clear legal frameworks and with parliamentary oversight. Voluntary service, good employment conditions and potentially civilian alternatives are preferable to automatic call-up.
Values The institutional approach seeks a balance between security, proportionality, democratic legitimacy and societal capacity to bear the burden.
Consequences A gradual approach can retain public support, but may fall short if the Bundeswehr quickly needs more personnel.
Right
Arguments A credible armed force is necessary to protect Germany, Europe and NATO. If voluntary recruitment produces insufficient numbers, the state must be able to rely on a system that distributes the burden of defence fairly.
Values The emphasis is on national security, order, responsibility and obligations to allies.
Consequences Excessive restraint could lead to personnel shortages and weaker deterrence; reintroduced conscription could nevertheless provoke social opposition.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The reporting is based on a German news source, a regional public broadcaster and official information from the Bundeswehr. Differences between police and organiser counts are explicitly attributed and not presented as a single fixed participant figure.
- confirmed Demonstrations against rearmament and possible conscription took place in Berlin and Stuttgart on 3 October. — Reported by Deutschlandfunk and Tagesschau. source
- confirmed Berlin police estimated the number of participants at around 6,000, while organisers cited more than 20,000. — Both estimates appear in Deutschlandfunk’s report. source
- confirmed The new German military service is voluntary, but registration and medical examinations are compulsory for men born in 2008 or later. — This is stated in the Bundeswehr’s official explanation. source
- confirmed The new rules have applied since 1 January 2026. — Mentioned by the Bundeswehr in its explanation of the new service. source
- confirmed Critics believe that some demonstrators insufficiently address Russia’s attack on Ukraine. — The claim is attributed to criticism described by Tagesschau/SWR in the report. source
Editor's note
The demonstrations and the differing participant figures are well documented. The figures are estimates by police and organisers and cannot be directly compared with one another.Sources
- Demonstrationen gegen Aufrüstung und Wehrpflicht — Deutschlandfunk
- Baden-Württemberg: Tausende Menschen demonstrieren in Stuttgart für Abrüstung — Tagesschau
- Neuer Wehrdienst der Bundeswehr: Ablauf, Dauer, Bedingungen — Bundeswehr
- Neuer Wehrdienst: Erste Briefe mit QR-Code werden versendet — Bundeswehr
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „duitsland berlijn”
- Het Parool — „duitsland berlijn”
- Trouw — „duitsland berlijn”