Student protest against conscription: Wismar high school student active in the classroom!

Student protest against conscription: Wismar high school student active in the classroom!

Schoolchildren all over Germany protested against the restoration of compulsory military service on December 5, 2023. Among them is 17-year-old Pascal Collin from Tüzen, near Wismar. The young man wanted to take part in a strike, but was discouraged from doing so by his high school in Neukloster. According to the school administration, his absence would have been counted as unexcused, which would have had a negative impact on his Abitur grade. This prompted Pascal's father, Yann-Christoph Collin, to criticize the school's decision. He pointed out that participants in Fridays for Future actions were considered excused, while the current protest received no recognition.

Pascal himself is concerned about the new regulations on compulsory military service, which are due to take effect from 2026. These will also affect his younger brothers, who were born in 2012 and 2015. He particularly sees the upcoming muster as a potential incentive to promote war. Therefore, he decided to be physically present in class, but not actively participate. He points to his protest with a sign on his table and has brought information material with him that is of interest to his classmates. The majority of teachers tolerated his protest, but some expressed concerns.

New conscription and muster

The reform of compulsory military service, which was recently passed by the Bundestag, provides for compulsory military service for all men born in 2008. The first questionnaires to record personal information, health status and readiness for military service will be sent out from mid-January 2026. From January 1, 2026, comprehensive mustering will be activated, into which 24 mustering centers will be integrated, although their locations have not yet been determined. The draft itself remains essentially unchanged: it includes a medical examination and an interview to confirm fitness for military service. The federal government's goal is to increase the Bundeswehr to at least 260,000 active members and 200,000 reservists.

Although the new rules will come into force from 2026, the right to conscientious objection remains. Volunteers doing military service can still apply for a place and receive a gross monthly salary of around 2,600 euros, as well as subsidies for a car driving license. However, critics, such as Green Party defense expert Nanni, question whether this is the right way to equip the Bundeswehr with the necessary forces. The Secretary General of the Federal Student Conference, Gärtner, is instead calling for a comprehensive education and health offensive to address the needs of young people.

Criticism of the new regulations

So far, conscription in Germany has had an eventful history. It was suspended in 2011, but remains anchored in the Basic Law and can be reinstated at any time with a simple majority in the Bundestag. Despite widespread discussions, there is still no consensus as to whether women should be included in compulsory military service. The Federal Minister of Defense and other political representatives assure that the innovations are merely a survey that is also intended to assess motivation and suitability for military service.

Protests like Pascal Collin's show that many young people are concerned about the impact of this reform. They demand that their voices be heard and that serious consideration of conscription takes the well-being of young people into account.