Berlin, Germany — Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin and more than 30 other German cities on Saturday as the country joined a widening wave of student-led protests sweeping across Europe.
Crowds assembled at Platz des 18 Maerz, on the western side of the capital’s Brandenburg Gate, on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon. The demonstration drew a diverse cross-section of supporters, ranging from students to older residents.
Anti-fascist activists, some smoking hand-rolled cigarettes and wearing keffiyehs, stood alongside students in Halloween costumes, elderly women wearing “omas gegen rechts” (“grandmothers against the right”) badges, and media crews, ahead of the 2 p.m. (13:00 GMT) rally kickoff.
The protests were coordinated by a loose alliance called Gen Z Regelt (“Gen Z sorts it”). By Saturday morning, nearly 180,000 people across 34 cities had registered to participate, with major turnout expected in Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, and Berlin.
In the German capital alone, almost 12,000 people signed up, and demonstrators continued to flow into the square well into the afternoon to hear speakers during what remained a peaceful gathering.
Elsewhere, scuffles erupted between protesters and police in the western city of Cologne, where officers moved to contain a march.
Organizers cited six central concerns driving the demonstrations: the rising cost of living, reductions in education funding, and mandatory military conscription, among others.
Government’s ‘political failure’
Students interviewed by Al Jazeera expressed anger and frustration over continued funding cuts, even as the government allocates significant resources to the military.
At the same time, many said they feel encouraged by recent student protests elsewhere in Europe.
Veronika Dinter, a 23-year-old political science student, traveled to Berlin from Hannover on Friday night to take part.
She said high living costs forced her to take a part-time job to support her studies.
“I wanted to study to develop critical thinking and learn something new, but I did not anticipate how expensive it would be. I believe many people in my generation are facing this reality right now,” she said.
“Education and social services are being cut while the cost of living continues to climb. Universities are struggling, institutes are closing, instructors are losing their jobs, and educational facilities are literally deteriorating.
“This is the political failure of our government. Rather than addressing the crisis, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his affluent allies are directing billions of euros toward the military.”
Emma Heymann, a 24-year-old student living in Berlin, voiced similar concerns.
“Our generation is deeply angry that the government is imposing sweeping cuts affecting our quality of life, while simultaneously spending billions on the military and funding the genocide in Gaza,” she said.
Protesters ‘must be listened to’
Phil Tziartzianis traveled eight hours from Kassel to join his friend Jan Chrominski and other young demonstrators.
“It feels important to stand alongside other young people who share these concerns,” he said.
The demonstrations are part of a broader wave of protests that has swept across Europe in recent weeks, including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Serbia.
Kilian Hampel, a senior research fellow at the Future of Work Lab at the University of Konstanz, said the movement is resonating with young Germans.
“Frustration has been building for years, and this is clearly part of a Europe-wide wave. Young people here feel empowered to take their concerns to the streets,” Hampel said. “Many of their grievances—particularly regarding inadequate educational infrastructure—are legitimate, and it is vital that they are heard.”
The Berlin rally was scheduled to last two hours, with a second demonstration planned for 5:30 p.m. (16:30 GMT) elsewhere in the capital.
In the past week, political figures have warned that the protests could turn violent.
Demonstrators, however, say the focus on violence distracts from the issues they are trying to raise.
“We call on the police not to respond to our demonstrations with violence of any kind,” said Dinter, the student from Hannover.
“We stand in solidarity with people worldwide fighting for affordable living, greater investment in education, and an end to war and military buildup.”
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