Student protest in Ratzeburg: We are not cannon fodder!”

Student protest in Ratzeburg: We are not cannon fodder!”

A storm is brewing in Ratzeburg, and it has nothing to do with the weather. Thomas Engelbrecht, headmaster of the Lauenburg School of Scholars, found his school covered with around 100 posters on Monday morning. These posters come from a committed group of students and are intended to draw attention to the nationwide school strike against conscription on December 5th. As the Lauenburgische Nachrichten reports, the Lübeck alliance is planning a protest at the Holstentor under the motto "Against coercion. Against militarization. For our future".

Engelbrecht, who responded immediately, instructed a student to remove the posters during the first two lessons. 17-year-old David, one of the activists behind the protest, didn't let it get him down. He expressed that he is not a fan of compulsory service and pointed out social problems that are very close to his heart. David also criticized the fact that young people are not included in decisions about conscription and called for more space for different opinions.

The context of the debate

What is behind these lively protests? From next year 2026, the Merz government plans to put a new law on military service in Germany into force. The goal: to increase the Bundeswehr to at least 260,000 soldiers through volunteers. As the Frankfurter Rundschau reports, conscription could be reintroduced if recruitment does not go as desired. The upcoming protests on December 5th fall on a critical day: on this day the military service modernization law is expected to be voted on.

According to the 2025 Youth Trend Study, an overwhelming majority of 81 percent of Gen-Z rejects going to war for Germany. This attitude is not only evident in Ratzeburg, but also in other cities where student protests are planned. In Brandenburg, rallies have already been scheduled in Potsdam and Cottbus. Many young people see military service as a potentially unfair and dangerous obligation and express that they do not want to end up as “cannon fodder.”

Political reactions and legal aspects

But how did Engelbrecht react to the criticism and protests? In a statement, he emphasized that political participation by students is desirable, but must take place within a framework that the school considers appropriate. The neutrality requirement, anchored in the Schleswig-Holstein School Act, prevents schools from taking a clear position in political debates. He points out that protests during school hours could potentially lead to problems with exams, which doesn't make things any easier.

The district association of the Left in the Duchy of Lauenburg was not intimidated by Engelbrecht's measures and criticized his decision to take down the posters. They pointed out the controversiality requirement of the Beutelsbach Consensus, which calls for a diverse and controversial presentation of topics in schools. The Left called on Engelbrecht to revise his decision and create space for discussions about conscription. Engelbrecht called the left's statement "embarrassing," which led to further outcry.

This dynamic situation shows once again how important it is that the voice of youth is heard. The debate about compulsory military service and dealings with the military is more current than ever and will keep young people in Germany busy for a long time.

Let's stay tuned to see how these protests will unfold on December 5, 2025 and what impact they could have on the political landscape in Germany.