Easter for peace: thousands protest against militarization

Easter marches 2025: Thousands of people demonstrate nationwide against war and upgrading

On the Easter weekend, tens of thousands of people gathered in more than 100 cities in Germany to take part in the traditional Easter marches. These events had the goal of setting a clear sign against war, militarization and increasing arms expenditure. Against the background of the current conflicts in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip as well as the increasing defense spending in Germany, the protests became particularly loud and visible.

Central demands: disarmament instead of upgrading

The Easter marches have a long tradition within the peace movement in Germany, which goes back to 1960. This year, the critical voices focused on increasing military budgets and militarily oriented foreign policy of the federal government. The demonstrators called for a redirection of funds to investments in education, healthcare, social housing and climate protection instead of upgrading.

protests in different cities

in Kassel, for example, hundreds of opponents of war gathered in front of the headquarters of the armaments company Rheinmetall, where they organized a sitting block. The demonstration received support from various groups, including employees of Volkswagen, who competed against war and fascism with their own slogans. A similar wave of the protest was also visible in other cities such as Hanover and Berlin. In Hanover, around 1,500 people took part in a protest, while around 2,000 participants in Berlin went on the streets under the motto "Yes to Peace".

international and social issues in focus

The protests were not only limited to war and militarization, but also tended to set international conflicts in connection with German foreign policy. In Berlin, Israel's politics in the Gaza Strip was particularly criticized, and there were expressions of solidarity with foreign students who had to expect difficulties because of their protests. In Cologne, the demonstrators also responded to the repression that was directed against students.

summarizing view

The Easter marches 2025 show the continued public interest in peace and disarmament. The number of participants in some cities was higher than in the previous year, even if the numbers of the big decades had not been reached. The variety of events organized by various organizations, including local peace groups and unions, illustrates that the call for peace and social justice is still strong.