- Published
School strikes are taking place across Germany to protest against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service.
asserted
strikes → publish → service
One of the organisers of the strike, Bela Breitner, from School Strike Against Compulsory Military Service said the federal government was "serious about gradually reintroducing compulsory military service".
asserted
government → say → service
At one protest in Hamburg, demonstrators waved flags and held up banners emblazoned with the words "We won't take part in your wars".
asserted
We → wave → wars
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany's military a priority following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
asserted
boosting → make → Ukraine
A new law introducing voluntary military service came into force in January, with the aim of recruiting volunteers to increase the number of soldiers.
However, if the security situation worsens or if too few volunteers come forward, a form of compulsory military service could be considered by Germany's Parliament, the Bundestag.
uncertain
form → introduce → Parliament
Under the law, all 18-year-olds in Germany are being sent a questionnaire asking if they are interested and willing to join the armed forces.
asserted
they → send → forces
One protester, 16-year-old Elias Bernhard, from Hamburg, said that the responses to the questionnaires "show that young people do not want to join the Bundeswehr [Germany's army]".
asserted
people → say → Bundeswehr
That is why we are serious about striking until compulsory military service is off the table.
asserted
service → strike → table
We will carry on."
The questionnaire is mandatory for men and voluntary for women.
asserted
questionnaire → carry → women
All 18-year-old men will have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for possible military service.
asserted
men → have → service
The organisers of the protests, say the trigger came after some 18-year-olds in the northern German towns of Kiel and Flensburg, were sent official invitations for medical exams, even though they expressed no interest in joining the army on their registration forms.
asserted
they → say → forms
The group says over a hundred demonstrations are planned across Germany, including in Kiel, Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt.
asserted
demonstrations → say → Kiel
A spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told the BBC that under the law, the obligation to undergo a medical examination applies "to all men liable for military service who were born after 31 December 2007".
asserted
who → tell → December
This also applies to people who have stated that they have no interest in compulsory military service.
asserted
they → apply → service
The spokesperson said that since July around 1,000 18-year-old men, who showed no interest in the army, have had the medical exam.
asserted
who → say → exam
During the Cold War, Germany, like many other European countries, had a large army.
asserted
Germany → have → army
But it reduced its armed forces during the 1990s after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
asserted
it → reduce → Curtain
Germany's former Chancellor, Angela Merkel, ended compulsory military service in 2011.
asserted
Chancellor → end → 2011
But now, in the face of perceived threats from Russia and heavy pressure from Germany's traditional ally, the US, Merz has vowed to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe's strongest conventional army.
asserted
Merz → perceive → army
The Bundeswehr currently has around 186,700 troops.
asserted
Bundeswehr → have → troops
By the early 2030s, Germany wants to raise the number to 260,000, supplemented by around 200,000 reservists, in order to meet new Nato force targets and strengthen Germany's defences.
asserted
Germany → want → defences
The Aporia
