Thousands of young people took to the streets across Germany on Saturday to protest against rising living costs, cuts in education spending and plans to strengthen the country’s military, but demonstrations in several cities turned violent in the evening, with rioters looting shops and clashing with police.The protests, organised by the youth campaign group “GenZ regelt!” (Gen Z takes charge), were held in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The movement drew inspiration from youth-led demonstrations in other European countries, particularly France and Italy, where young people have been demanding greater attention to their concerns.While the demonstrations remained largely peaceful during the day, violence broke out in major cities including Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg as some groups refused to disperse.According to AFP, masked rioters looted shops in Frankfurt, while police used water cannons and pepper spray against demonstrators who threw stones, fireworks and petrol bombs at security personnel and emergency workers.Police described the situation in Frankfurt as involving “violent riots” and said several shops had their windows smashed. Molotov cocktails were also thrown at emergency personnel, according to a police statement cited by AFP.A gun store was among the establishments targeted, with its windows smashed. Police arrested a suspect and seized two weapons. A trainer shop and a perfume store were also reportedly looted, according to German daily Bild.A large section of Frankfurt’s main shopping street was closed as police attempted to bring the situation under control. Police vans and riot officers prevented people from entering the area, while a helicopter hovered overhead.At least one police officer was injured in Frankfurt and received medical treatment. Police also reported injuries to officers in other cities.
Police blame extremist groups for violence
Authorities said the protests had been infiltrated by extremist groups, raising concerns about the possibility of violence spreading during demonstrations.Roman Poseck, interior minister of the German state of Hesse, said around 100 identified left-wing extremists had joined the protest in Frankfurt.“It is shameful how this event here in Frankfurt has ended,” Poseck said.Police also deployed water cannons in Hamburg and Cologne after demonstrators allegedly targeted emergency service personnel with fireworks, stones and bottles.In Berlin, a separate evening protest, which was not organised by the GenZ regelt! movement, saw demonstrators throw eggs and bottles at police. A police officer in Bonn also suffered minor injuries during a confrontation with a group.According to Reuters, Germany’s federal interior ministry had warned ahead of the demonstrations that parts of the country’s far-left extremist scene and groups linked to foreign extremist movements were trying to mobilise support.Hesse’s interior minister had also cautioned against the possibility of violence similar to the unrest witnessed in France.“We all have those images from France in our minds – looting, burning houses, burning police vehicles, and attacks on police officers,” Poseck told Reuters.“France must not be held up as a model in this regard.”Some businesses in German cities had boarded up their windows and planned to close early ahead of the demonstrations. Concerns were particularly high along Berlin’s luxury Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard.The GenZ regelt! movement, however, distanced itself from violence and said extremist groups had no place in its demonstrations.“Extremist groups, anti-constitutional symbols, racism and hate speech have no place with us – no matter from which side,” the group said.
What are Germany’s Gen Z protesters demanding?
The demonstrations were driven by concerns over the rising cost of living, the condition of schools and universities, government spending cuts and increased military expenditure.The movement also opposes compulsory military service and has called for greater investment in education and public services.Young people in Germany have expressed concerns about the government’s plans to increase troop numbers through a new voluntary military service model, fearing that it could eventually lead to the return of compulsory conscription.The protests come at a time when Europe’s largest economy is struggling to revive growth and facing increasing pressure on its pension system and public services.Germany is also dealing with demographic challenges as large sections of the baby boomer generation approach retirement, reducing the size of its working-age population and putting additional pressure on younger generations.For many protesters, the issue is not limited to military policy or education spending but also concerns the government’s priorities and the financial burden being placed on young people.“The government has offered no response to our concerns other than to continue making cuts and piling further burdens upon us,” Steve, an 18-year-old scheduled to address a rally in Munich, told Reuters.Addressing Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he said the protesters would continue exercising their right to assemble until their concerns were addressed.In Berlin, Technical University student Sean Baker told Reuters that the poor condition of university buildings was among the reasons he planned to join the demonstration.“When you go inside and enter the rooms, it looks like an abandoned building,” he said. “Yet this is where we’re expected to study on a regular basis.”
Turnout falls short of organisers’ expectations
The demonstrations were planned across 34 German cities, with organisers initially expecting around 182,000 participants.However, official figures available on Saturday afternoon indicated that turnout was significantly lower than anticipated.Police in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported around 6,000 participants, compared with approximately 36,000 recorded on the organisers’ website, Reuters reported.The movement’s organisers later said around 120,000 people had participated nationwide, below their initial estimate of about 180,000, AFP reported.The demonstrations also coincided with Halloween celebrations, with some participants dressed in costumes ranging from dinosaurs to Batman. Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “Time for resistance” and “Merz must go”, targeting the policies of the conservative chancellor.In Berlin, a 20-year-old student identified only as Milla told AFP that she wanted to show solidarity with similar demonstrations taking place across Europe.“I’ve been waiting for a long time for something to finally really happen, and for people to tackle this with a bit more force. I believe that today here is the first step,” she said.
Questions over who is leading the movement
Despite its youth-focused agenda, questions have emerged over whether GenZ regelt! is genuinely a student-led movement, given the involvement of a broad mix of political and civil society groups.Germany’s national school student umbrella organisation, BSK, has distanced itself from the campaign and announced plans to organise a separate day of protests on November 20.“We are distancing ourselves from ‘GenZ regelt’ but not from the students themselves, who have legitimate concerns,” BSK Secretary-General Amy Kirchhoff said on Thursday, according to Reuters.The distinction highlights a wider debate over who represents Germany’s younger generation and how their concerns should be raised.The protests are part of a wider wave of Gen Z-led demonstrations across Europe this year. In Serbia, student-led activism played a role in challenging the country’s political leadership, while demonstrations in France have witnessed clashes, looting and widespread unrest.The developments have prompted German authorities to remain cautious about the possibility of similar violence spreading to the country.