Student protest in Neubrandenburg: compulsory military service on the brink!

Student protest in Neubrandenburg: compulsory military service on the brink!

On Friday, December 5, 2025, around 200 students and supporters gathered on the market square in Neubrandenburg to protest against the federal government's planned military service reforms. This extraordinary action is not just a local event, but part of a Germany-wide mobilization that is taking place in around 90 cities Northern Courier reported. The demonstration, which was officially registered and had the motto “School strike against conscription”, was organized by students from the Albert Einstein High School.

These protests are not simply an expression of discontent, but a first step, according to Daniel Kasper, one of the demonstrators, who points to the threat of a return to compulsory military service. “We don’t want to end up as cannon fodder,” is a key slogan that reflects the concerns of many young people who fear that the proposed law, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, will force them to enlist without having enough volunteers in the military.

Political support and resistance

Among the supporters of the campaign were local politicians such as Thorsten Koplin from Die Linke and Jens Kreutzer from BSW. However, the protest also attracted critical voices; The teachers' association and the CDU expressed their opposition. Teachers also warn about the legal consequences of unexcused absences, as students would be punished if they took part in these school strikes without permission, as shown on daily news is to be read. According to a prominent teacher association representative, students are not employees and could face legal consequences.

But not all voices are negative. The Berlin State Student Committee supports the protests and criticizes the lack of consideration of young perspectives in political decision-making. Against this background, the Bundestag vote on the reintroduction of compulsory military service is seen as a signal for a realignment of Germany's security policy.

Consequences and future protests

Feedback on the protests varies greatly. Some teachers show understanding and support students' concerns, while others threaten punishment. In Neubrandenburg, the students led their protest march along Turmstrasse to the town hall forecourt, where they raised their voices in speeches. The occasion is of national relevance; While protests are taking place in Neubrandenburg, similar events are taking place in many other cities such as Greifswald, Schwerin and Rostock, with large numbers of participants and urgent demands.

The initiative's spokespeople emphasize that this could be just the beginning. Further demonstrations cannot be ruled out, even if the plans are currently uncertain. The discontent over the military service plans has the potential to fill the streets in the coming weeks and months and to reignite the debate about Germany's security policy orientation. Many young people are concerned about what compulsory military service could mean for their future, and many express this forcefully on posters and banners.

Regardless of one's political orientation or personal opinions on the Bundeswehr, one thing seems clear: the students' protests are an urgent appeal to be taken seriously. And not just in Neubrandenburg, but nationwide. It remains exciting to see how the situation will develop and whether and when the Bundestag will pass the desired reform.