Earlier this month, 45,000 German school students went out on strike across 150 towns and cities, in protest at their government’s increased drive to war – including plans to bring back conscription, and the existing presence of military recruiters in classrooms.
Such recruitment of children is actually at odds with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as the Socialist German Workers’ Youth (SDAJ) previously highlighted.
This is the third such strike in 5 months. The first, on December 5th, saw 55,000 students walk out on the day the Military Modernisation Act came in. March 5th saw another strike of over 50,000 students, while this month’s strike was held on Victory Over Fascism Day (aka VE Day). The symbolism of the German youth protesting militarism on the very day the Nazi war machine was crushed should not be lost on anyone.
Not unlike the interwar period, militarism in Germany – and across Europe – justifies itself as defence from a “Russian threat”. Framing the EU and NATO’s war drive as defensive, forgetting the years of Eastwards NATO expansion since the 1990s, and previous Western war manoeuvres right along the Russian border.
Here in Britain the story is the same. Failing Prime Minister Starmer called for Britain to be a “battle-ready, armour-clad nation”. Our government puts our public money towards “defence”, rather than public services, job creation, and the youth.
The struggle for good jobs, housing, and services is not just linked to the struggle against militarism and imperialism – it is the same struggle!
Young communists must be at the forefront of the anti-war movement in our communities, workplaces, schools and campuses. We must be able to bring together the existing movements behind Stop the War, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and the various international solidarity groups such as Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Communist leaders must be the common thread that ties the movement together, consolidating existing campaigns and developing new ones where needed.
Be inspired by the thousands of striking youth in Germany!
Grow the YCL in our communities and campuses!
Build the United Front against Monopoly Capitalism and War!
Philip English, is the Editor of Challenge Magazine
