Am 05.03.2026 went more than 700 People take to the streets for the second school strike against conscription. Already on 05.12.2025 More than 1,000 went on strike in Kassel 1200 People against the reintroduction of compulsory military service, Nationwide there were more than 55.000 Pupils:inside on the street.
We spoke to Nora and Karla in preparation for the second strike, who are part of the Kassel school strike alliance. The two go into the 11. class at two different high schools in Kassel. They talk about the power of the first strike, their participation and the mood in Kassel schools.
What was your first school strike like for you??
Karla: Exciting, especially the phases beforehand with mobilization. I mainly distributed flyers and also held discussions on Königsplatz. Before the first strike, we even had our own strike committee at our school. At the demo in December itself, I only did awareness, in quotation marks, and now I'm fully prepared again.
Nora: Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there for the last strike, but I watched from afar via social media.
How is the topic of compulsory military service discussed at your school?? Is this also an issue beyond the strike??
Nora: For most of our students, the topic doesn't really come up in everyday conversation. It is dealt with in subjects such as PoWi. But I believe, You still have to deal with politics a little more intensively, to have an attitude towards conscription and to understand its reintroduction.
Karla: For me it's actually completely different. I'm at a school, which is a pure upper secondary school, what means, that we are relatively political. I notice in personal conversations, that many young people ask themselves, why they should go to war. They are worried about the situation in the war, but don't really take action.
How did your teachers react to the strike?? Was there support or headwind?
Karla: The reactions were very different. My tutor, for example, even encouraged us, to go on strike. Our director, on the other hand, tried to prevent that. A friend of mine made an announcement, to draw attention to the strike. There was then a second announcement from the director and he threatened us with unexcused absences. That's something, which also scares many students away. But friend:inside then told me, that in the end there were no negative consequences.
How do you otherwise experience the attitude towards conscription and rearmament in your environment?? For example in your family?
Karla: In my family and social environment there is often a lack of understanding of our attitude. Many people think conscription is necessary because of Russia and wonder, why we are striking against it. I'll try then, to bring arguments, that the dangers, that emanate from Russia, are not so easy to generalize. However, it is difficult e.g. to influence one's own parents, who watch the news every day and are always in the same environment with the same opinions.
Have the Bundeswehr ever been to your school??
Karla: And, A few weeks ago the Bundeswehr was in the Kassel high schools for career orientation. The strike committee at our school has planned an action against it, to show, that we do not accept advertising for death. The committee called for a boycott of the visit and wanted to give a speech. As a result, the Bundeswehr workshop was not very successful. But the Bundeswehr came to our school anyway…
Nora: … invited by the principal of my school! A few also took part in the workshop. I find, That's not clear at all. I thought about it too, speak to the responsible teacher about it, but I believe, that wouldn't have helped.
Do you have any classmates?, who want to join the Bundeswehr? What motivates them to do this??
Karla: I don't have any classmates with me who want that, but before that 5. In December I stood on Königsplatz with flyers and talked to various people about the Bundeswehr. One told me, that he would join the Bundeswehr, but not, because he thinks the Bundeswehr is great. But because he had an extreme sense of guilt towards society and the government, because he had the feeling that he received many privileges from the state. It is argued more often, that there is such a responsibility towards the state.
What do you think of the argument?, that there is a responsibility to the state?
Nora: Personally, I don't feel any sense of guilt or responsibility towards the state. The rights, that we have, should apply to all people and not just be a privilege. It is more important to stand up for everyone's rights than to promote the opposite.
How do you perceive the external representation and advertising of the Bundeswehr?? How does that resonate with you??
Karla: The Bundeswehr wants to persuade us, that you owe something to the state. It usually presents itself as an important employer, as necessary and strong…
Nora: The typical advertising images often show men, mostly blonde and parted, who look into the distance and proclaim a clear mission. A typically male image. Over the last year and a half, the Bundeswehr has advertised very intensively with numerous posters. More women are now being shown. The goal seems to be to present itself as diverse and modern, even though we know, that this does not correspond to reality. The discriminatory incidents within the Bundeswehr prove this, that this representation is often hypocritical.
Why do you think compulsory military service is being reintroduced right now and why Germany should be rearming??
Nora: I think it is an adaptation to the current geopolitical tensions, especially due to the wars in different countries. There is also fear, that Germany could be affected. At the same time, it is an act of control over young people, who are increasingly rebelling against the system. I think, that it is also simply an attempt to intimidate us.
Karla: And, and Germany also benefits economically from the militarization from the various wars, that are led or perhaps still being led, Germany can gain profit and influence.
When the law on conscription was passed, as you say, the voice of the youth is not heard. It was only through your school strike that you were able to gain attention. Do you see other topics where young people are ignored??
Karla: Is there even a topic?, where the voice of youth plays a role? I couldn't think of an example, where the government or state really wants to do something for the youth and not for its own interests.
Nora: I completely agree with Karla. Another topic, where the voices of young people are often not heard, is climate protection. Climate change primarily affects our generation, while the decision-makers will not bear the consequences themselves.
What would a world or a future be?, in which you want to grow older? What do you want to do with your future??
Nora: There is war everywhere and the interests of different states are being played off against each other. We say clearly, that we are not for the state, in which we live, want to die and see no responsibility towards this state. My goal for the future is, to do the most possible, to make the world a better place. I would like to start at one point, to help people, who don't enjoy the same privileges as me.
Karla: I see it very similarly. It would be desirable, that it will no longer be the case in the future, that in many places in the world economic interests are being fought at the expense of human lives. The idea is absurd, if you consider, how the state's priorities are set and how much a person's life is worth. I hope, that in the future human life will be the top priority, not the economic one- and state interests.
What would you say to Boris Pistorius?, when you meet him?
Nora: I believe, I would just turn around and leave.
Is there anything else?, that you would like to tell about the strike or political engagement?
Nora: It's really beautiful, to be politically active, but at the same time it is sometimes incredibly tiring to put together such large events. I wish, that more people engage with politics and become active.
Karla: I agree with that. It's great, to get involved and have a goal. However, it is often very exhausting, because the voice of youth is often not heard. That sounds pessimistic, but I hope and believe, that strikes like this really create mass awareness, that it can't go on like this.
