World

German Students Rally in Berlin Amid Rising Living Costs and Military Spending

By Gouri Sharma

Thousands gathered in Berlin’s Platz des 18 Maerz on a sunny Saturday afternoon to protest rising living costs, cuts to education, and military conscription. The demonstration, part of a broader movement organized by the loose alliance Gen Z Regelt, drew a mixed crowd that included anti‑fascist activists, students in Halloween costumes, grandmothers wearing “omas gegen rechts” badges, and camera crews. The rally began at 2 pm (13:00 GMT) and was expected to last two hours, with a second event scheduled for 5:30 pm (16:30 GMT). By Saturday morning, nearly 180,000 people had signed up to participate in protests across 34 German cities, including Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, and Berlin. About 12,000 people joined the Berlin event, and the square remained full as speakers addressed the crowd.

In Cologne, police intervened to contain a march, leading to scuffles between protesters and officers. The organizers outlined six key issues: the rising cost of living, education cuts, military conscription, political failure, and the government’s focus on military spending.

Students expressed frustration with funding cuts while noting hope inspired by protests across Europe. Veronika Dinter, a 23‑year‑old political science student from Hannover, said she had to take a part‑time job to cover her studies. She criticized the government’s spending priorities, stating, “Funding for education and social services are being cut, while the cost of living keeps rising…Instead of solving it, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his rich friends are funding the military with billions of euros.”

Emma Heymann, a 24‑year‑old student in Berlin, echoed these concerns, adding that the government’s spending on the military and on Gaza “is affecting our quality of life.”

Phil Tziartzianis, who travelled eight hours from Kassel to join friends at the demonstration, said it was important to be among other young people who share his views.

Kilian Hampel, a senior research fellow at the Future of Work Lab at the University of Konstanz, noted that the protests are part of a broader European wave and that many of the concerns, especially about educational infrastructure, are legitimate and deserve attention.

Despite political warnings that the protests could turn violent, demonstrators urged police to avoid confrontation. Dinter said, “We urge the police to not confront our demonstrations with any kind of violence. We stand in solidarity with all the people around the world who are fighting for an affordable life, for more investment in the education system, and against wars and military buildup.”