Hundreds of students have staged strikes across Germany, including in Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt, to oppose legislation they fear could lead to the reintroduction of mandatory military service. A law that came into force in January introduced voluntary military enlistment and requires all 18-year-old men to complete a questionnaire and undergo a medical fitness exam — even those who expressed no interest in serving — prompting the wave of protests. The demonstrations come as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to expand the Bundeswehr (Germany's armed forces) from roughly 187,000 troops to 260,000 by the early 2030s, partly in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Parliament retaining the option to impose full conscription if volunteer numbers fall short.