Overview
- Organisers said roughly 45,000 pupils joined coordinated school‑time protests in about 100 cities on Friday, with police giving regional counts such as about 2,400 in Berlin.
- The protests target the Wehrdienst modernisation law that took effect in January 2026 and mandates Musterung (medical fitness screening) for men born in 2008.
- The Federal Ministry of Defence has confirmed that some mandatory Musterungen started in July 2026, a fact organisers say makes the issue urgent for young people.
- Students demand repeal of the law and a legal right to strike in school, arguing Musterung and the risk of reinstated conscription threaten self‑determination and divert funds from education.
- Schools and legal experts note compulsory school attendance remains in force so unexcused absences can lead to disciplinary steps or fines, while local police largely secured peaceful demonstrations that caused traffic and parking restrictions.