"The government and industry are preparing for war and we, the young, are supposed to become the cannon fodder. Neither have we even been consulted. The protest reflects unrest felt in homes and classrooms across Germany since Friedrich Merz's government brought in hotly contested changes to military service policy, arguing the country needed to boost its defences amid growing threats from Russia."
"Under the Military Service Modernisation Act, mandatory questionnaires are being sent to all 18-year-olds to assess their willingness and suitability for military service. From next year, compulsory medical tests will be introduced. The law also includes a clause according to which men aged between 17 and 45 will in theory be allowed to travel abroad for longer than three months only if they receive permission from the armed forces."
"The legislation passed in December stops short of allowing for conscription, but the defence minister, Boris Pistorius, has said that is still on the table if the new policy fails to pull in enough recruits. According to experts, the professional military needs to expand by about 80,000 members to 260,000."
German students are organizing nationwide school strikes to oppose the government's military service modernization policies. The protests, led by the movement Schulstreik gegen Wehrpflicht, have drawn approximately 50,000 participants in previous demonstrations, with organizers expecting similar turnout at upcoming strikes. The government's Military Service Modernisation Act requires mandatory questionnaires for all 18-year-olds assessing military suitability and introduces compulsory medical tests starting next year. The legislation restricts travel abroad for men aged 17-45 without armed forces permission. While current policy stops short of full conscription, defense officials indicate conscription remains possible if recruitment targets aren't met. Students argue they face potential cannon fodder status without meaningful consultation in policy decisions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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