Würzburg Union Conference Calls for End to Conscription and Militarization

The fourth "Den Frieden gewinnen, nicht den Krieg" (Win Peace, Not War) trade‑union conference took place on 25 July in Würzburg, Germany. Organized by IG Metall’s regional office together with the Rosa‑Luxemburg‑Stiftung, the meeting gathered union activists, youth groups and older peace‑movement organisations to discuss opposition to re‑armament and the German government's proposed reinstatement of conscription.

During the closing session Ronja Fröhlich of the Munich alliance "Nein zur Wehrpflicht" (No to Conscription) stated that "die Kämpfe gehören zusammen" – the struggle against compulsory military service is linked to the broader union fight against cuts to the social state. She warned that the re‑introduction of conscription would again push young Germans into armed conflict, echoing historic concerns dating back to its reinstatement in 1956.

The conference also cited a Greenpeace study highlighting the NATO‑Russia weapons imbalance, arguing that Germany’s security does not depend on expanding military service. The event underscored the unions’ call for a political role in defending peace and social rights.