Thousands demand peace: large demonstrations in Berlin and Stuttgart.

Thousands demand peace: large demonstrations in Berlin and Stuttgart.

On October 4, 2025, tens of thousands of people gathered in Berlin and Stuttgart to support a nationwide peace demonstration. Over 450 groups, associations and parties, including the BSW and parts of the SPD, called for this rally to protest against the increase in armaments and the war effort in Ukraine and the Middle East. A highlight of the event was the participation of around 7,000 people in Berlin who gathered at Bebelplatz for the opening rally. The police counted the participants and found that people moved in a ring demonstration until the final rally between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. At the same time, a comparable event also took place in Stuttgart.

The initiative “Never again war – put down your weapons!” was significantly behind the mobilizations, which pointed to a variety of demands: stopping the arms build-up, disarmament for social areas such as education and health, as well as the rejection of new US medium-range weapons and conscription are just a few of the central concerns. The participants, including numerous prominent speakers such as the SPD member of the Bundestag Ralf Stegner and other representatives of peace initiatives, clearly expressed their demands. Stegner emphasized: “Any bad peace is better than war,” a sentence that reflected the sentimental mood among the demonstrators.

A strong sign of solidarity

The event in Berlin, like the one in Stuttgart, brought together prominent speakers from various social classes. Among the politicians and activists there were also voices of conscientious objectors from Russia and Ukraine, who used their experiences to accelerate the urgency of peace. Occasionally Russian flags could be seen on site, which once again highlighted the mixed situation and the complexity of the current geopolitical situation.

The large number of supporters – over 500 peace initiatives and organizations – underlines the social relevance of the movement. The call to participate came not only from established political forces, but also from a broad base of activists who work together against war and for a more peaceful world. The musical support from artists such as Vizzion and Tino Eisbrenner provided an atmospheric background that further strengthened the sense of community.

A look into history

The current demonstrations are reminiscent of the major peace movements of the 1980s, when protests against the arms race took place in Germany and other Western countries due to fears of nuclear war. During this time, the Krefeld appeal warned against accepting the NATO double decision to station new nuclear missiles. Back then, too, hundreds of thousands mobilized for demonstrations to demand a policy of disarmament.

The peace movement in the Federal Republic of Germany was characterized by a broad spectrum, which included not only the Greens, but also church and trade union groups. The organized protests of this time are a part of history that is still relevant today. They show that commitment to peace is both contemporary history and the future.

The events of October 4, 2025 make it clear that the demands for peace and disarmament still play an important role today. The appeal to the states is unmistakable: “Put down your weapons!” and “For peaceful coexistence!” – Values ​​that resonate more strongly than ever in times of war.