Overview
- The Bundestag approved the Wehrdienst-Modernisierungsgesetz, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with men born in 2008 or later required to complete a federal questionnaire, while responses by women are voluntary.
- Mandatory medical and fitness musterings for young men will be phased in, with a nationwide mustering starting in July 2027.
- Thousands of pupils joined coordinated protests in more than 80–90 cities; Berlin police later estimated about 3,000 participants, with sizable turnouts also reported in Hamburg, Dresden, Munich and other hubs.
- Education authorities reiterated school-attendance rules and warned of unexcused absences, as unions and left-leaning parties backed the actions and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius praised the students’ civic engagement.
- Organizers announced a follow-up nationwide school strike for March 5, 2026, and the Bundesrat is slated to review the law before Christmas.