(MENAFN) Activists across Germany have called for large-scale demonstrations against the possible reinstatement of mandatory military service, arguing that the country should focus on peace rather than war.

The government is considering bringing back conscription to address personnel shortages in the armed forces, which have worsened as young Germans increasingly choose civilian careers over military service. While the new law, set to take effect on January 1, will initially operate on a voluntary basis, it could eventually pave the way for broader compulsory service.

Peace campaigners have announced a “day of action” for December 5, aiming to mobilize nationwide opposition to what they describe as the government’s “comprehensive militarization of society.”

“The German government’s war preparations and the massive arms buildup, along with their drastic social consequences, make it imperative to intensify joint actions by the peace movement,” organizers said after a weekend meeting in Kassel. Using the slogan, “Germany must not become capable of war, but rather of peace,” they urged trade unions, social groups, and universities to counter what they see as militarization propaganda.

“Militarization is propagated as ‘security policy,’ while it undermines social, health, and education policies, as well as infrastructure,” the initiative added.

The move comes amid a broader European Union effort to strengthen military capabilities in preparation for potential confrontation with Russia—a concern Moscow has dismissed as a distraction from Europe’s internal problems.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to develop Germany’s armed forces into the “strongest conventional army in Europe,” aiming for full operational readiness by 2029. Germany has emerged as Ukraine’s second-largest weapons supplier after the US.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Berlin’s plans, claiming Merz is trying to make Germany “the main military machine of Europe” and accusing the country of direct involvement in a proxy conflict against Russia.

The announcement of possible conscription comes at a time when Germany is facing economic difficulties, with stagnating growth and a weakening industrial sector contributing to what experts describe as a “dramatic” decline.

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