About 3,000 people took to the streets of Berlin to demonstrate against Germany’s newly approved military service bill, hours after Bundestag lawmakers backed the legislation aimed at strengthening the country’s armed forces. The conscription reform, passed after months of heated national debate, aligns with NATO’s push for higher defence spending amid growing fears that Russia’s war in Ukraine could expand beyond its borders.

Protesters, many of them young Germans, argued that the burden of renewed military service was being unfairly placed on their generation. Eighteen-year-old Tess Datzer said she saw no justification for being expected to fight “for a country that does little for us,” lamenting the lack of investment in pensions, climate action and future-oriented policies. Organisers added that while billions flow into defence, schools and essential public services remain underfunded, highlighting outdated facilities and teacher shortages.

The new bill sets an ambitious goal of expanding the Bundeswehr from 183,000 active soldiers to as many as 260,000 by 2035, along with 200,000 reservists. It introduces a dual-track model: a more attractive voluntary service to draw recruits, and a needs-based conscription mechanism that can be activated if enlistment numbers fall short. Will this sweeping reform strengthen Germany’s security or deepen public resistance to compulsory service? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news