Protests against compulsory military service: Not in the mood for compulsory military service – and for the BSW?

It is likely to be the largest protest against conscription and rearmament to date: According to Berlin police, up to 30,000 people are expected to attend a rally at the Brandenburg Gate on Friday. The motto: “Unforceable – no desire for war and conscription”. No wonder that the audience is so popular: with announced concerts by K.I.Z., Disarstar and Apsilon, the organizers are advertising several icons of left-wing German rap.

The school strikes against compulsory military service play a central role. According to their own information, they brought 45,000 people onto the streets nationwide last weekend to protest against a possible reintroduction of compulsory military service. “We now want to build on that,” said Bela Breitner, press spokesman for the school strike against conscription initiative. The aim is to build a “broad social movement”. We're happy about everyone who comes - "even if it's just for the concerts."

The rally is particularly directed against the fact that the Bundeswehr is already carrying out the first compulsory military service, including for young men who do not want to do military service. The organizers also criticize the social cuts that are threatened by the massive rearmament. In addition to the students, the German Peace Society – United Conscientious Objectors (DFG-VK) and Medico International are also calling for participation. Speeches are expected from Sea Watch and Israeli conscientious objectors, among others.

Although no one among the organizers wants to admit it, the rally is also a counter-offer to the now almost traditional mobilization for German Unity Day on Saturday. Since 2024, peace policy groups have been taking to the streets on this day. From the beginning, the protests bore the clear signature of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). Demos have been announced for this year in Stuttgart and Berlin.

The organizers' call sharply criticizes rearmament, social cuts and US and Israeli war crimes. But once again there is no clear definition of Russia's imperial ambitions. Instead, responsibility for the war in Ukraine is attributed solely to the EU and NATO. The BSW's participation has also become more explosive because the party in Saxony-Anhalt is currently in the process of helping the right-wing extremist and nationalist AfD come to power.

“It is completely incomprehensible to me how one can join forces with the BSW in these times,” said Thuringian state parliament member Katharina König-Preuss to the taz - also with a view to her own party, which supported the protest on Saturday by decision of the party executive committee. The BSW is clearly signaling that it is paving the way to power for the AfD. “In Saxony-Anhalt that means war against refugees, employees and people with disabilities,” said König-Preuss. “You can’t just demonstrate with them just because they say they’re for peace.”

A spokesman for the Left referred to the party executive committee's decision, which is not explicitly directed against the BSW, but emphasizes: Anyone who advocates for peace must not "make themselves the AfD's stirrup holder." The Left speakers at the demo would make it clear that “antimilitarism and antifascism are two sides of the same attitude.”

Sören Pellmann, a member of the Left Party and speaker at the Berlin demo, explained in writing that you do not have to “agree with every political position of those involved” in order to take part. The demonstration is being organized by a “non-partisan alliance” and the Left is a “traditional participant”. The European MP Özlem Demirel, who is scheduled to speak in Stuttgart, wrote to the taz that the issue of peace “should not be left to some demagogues”. The BSW is “a dead horse” whose participation does not impress her.

Meanwhile, the DFG-VK has dropped out. In a statement, the association criticized the failure to name Russia as the aggressor and the involvement of the BSW. Nevertheless, we know that “many people are running on Saturday who are concerned about important and right concerns,” said DFG-VK spokesman Kiesel. The anti-conscription rally was deliberately scheduled for Friday “so as not to create a competing event.” But Kiesel added: “Incidentally, it is also an absolute no-go for us to make pacts with fascists and give them an opportunity to exercise power, as the BSW, which is co-invoking, is currently doing.”

The school strike movement, however, is taking part in both protests. "We must not allow ourselves to be divided. This can only be achieved if we combine the two into one big peace policy weekend," said spokesman Bela Breitner to the taz.