Gen Z protests in Germany turn violent with looting in Frankfurt and clashes in multiple cities

Youth-led demonstrations across more than thirty German cities on October 31 began as largely peaceful marches and ended with looting, smashed shop windows and clashes with police in several locations. The campaign group Gen Z regelt, which translates roughly as Gen Z takes charge, organised the protests to demand better funding for schools, health care and social services, lower living costs, and an end to plans for compulsory military service.

Frankfurt, the financial centre, saw the most serious disorder. Masked groups broke windows of multiple shops on the main shopping street, looted trainers and other goods, and attacked a gun store. Police recovered two weapons after arresting a suspect. Officers reported that Molotov cocktails, stones, fireworks and bottles were thrown at emergency services. Water cannons and pepper spray were used. More than thirty people were temporarily arrested in the city. A large section of the central shopping area was closed overnight.

Similar incidents occurred in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. In Berlin, police said twenty-seven officers suffered minor injuries and nearly sixty people were arrested. In Cologne, officers near the cathedral were attacked with bottles and bicycles. In Hamburg, pyrotechnics were fired at police and barricades were set alight. Nationwide police figures on total arrests and injuries were still being compiled on November 1. Organisers had projected turnout well above 100,000; police counts in the three largest cities totalled around 18,000, roughly half the organisers’ early estimates for those locations.

Gen Z regelt spokesperson Lina Friedrich said the demonstrations were intended to prioritise education and health over military spending and to oppose a return to conscription. Placards carried slogans such as education not bombs and fairer distribution of the burden. The group distanced itself from the evening violence. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt attributed the disorder to left-wing groups and individuals from migrant backgrounds. Organisers in Frankfurt rejected that characterisation for the bulk of the daytime marches.

The German protests followed weeks of larger demonstrations in France over living costs and education. French authorities estimated 320,000 participants on the previous Saturday. Parallel youth actions have appeared in other European countries facing inflation, housing shortages and debates over defence spending. In Germany the combination of Halloween timing and existing tensions over military service produced both large daytime crowds and smaller groups that remained after dark and turned to property damage.

Police described the evening events as violent disturbances rather than part of the organised protest. Shop owners on Frankfurt’s Zeil reported broken glass and stolen stock. The gun store incident drew particular attention because of the weapons recovered. No fatalities were reported. Several officers required medical treatment for minor injuries.

The violence has prompted calls for stronger policing of future demonstrations and for clearer separation between authorised marches and groups that refuse to disperse. Gen Z regelt has said it will continue its campaign through legal channels. Whether the October 31 disorder reduces public support for the underlying demands on education and living costs, or whether it hardens official responses, will be visible in the next round of planned actions.