More than 50,000 pupils are expected to strike across Germany in a nationwide protest against the government’s rearmament policy, with organisers warning that young people risk being turned into “cannon fodder.”

The school boycott, scheduled for Friday, will see students walk out of classrooms despite warnings from authorities that participation during school hours could lead to penalties. The protest uses slogans such as “Dying is not on the timetable.”

Organisers say turnout could match or exceed the roughly 50,000 participants seen at previous strikes.

“The government and industry are preparing for war and we, the young, are supposed to become the cannon fodder,” said Hannes Kramer, spokesperson for the movement Schulstreik gegen Wehrpflicht (‘School Strike Against Conscription’). “Neither have we even been consulted.”

The protests follow controversial reforms introduced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government aimed at strengthening Germany’s armed forces. Under the Military Service Modernisation Act, 18-year-olds are being surveyed on their willingness to serve, with mandatory medical checks planned from next year. The law also includes a clause suggesting men aged 17 to 45 could require permission for extended stays abroad.

This provision has sparked criticism, prompting Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to clarify that it does not currently apply. “Everyone is of course allowed to travel and currently does not need a permit for this,” he said, adding that a decree introducing a general exemption is being prepared.

Still, concerns persist among students, who link the military buildup to broader frustrations. Demonstrators have highlighted underfunded schools and social inequality.