Erfurt students demonstrate against new conscription law

On May 8, more than one hundred students and young people marched through Erfurt, Germany, to protest the recently passed Wehrpflicht (conscription) law. The demonstration began at the central railway station and proceeded to the theatre square, coinciding with the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II and the fall of the Nazi regime.

Organisers highlighted concerns that a mandatory military service contradicts the voluntary nature of modern defence and warned that the law could deepen militarisation while youth feel exploited by the arms industry’s profits. The protest was supported logistically by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), and participants cited the lack of parliamentary backing for the law, noting that only the Left Party voiced some of their positions. Speakers also referenced recent right‑wing incidents in local schools and the need to counter such trends, invoking the newly formed “Schülis gegen Rechts” (Students against the Right) group. An AfD party congress taking place in Erfurt was mentioned as part of the broader political context.

The demonstrators called for a pause on the compulsory service, urging policymakers to retain a truly voluntary system and to address broader peace‑building concerns.