Youth-led protests spread across 34 German cities on Saturday. Late in the day, rioters looted stores in Frankfurt and fought police in Hamburg.
182,000 participants were expected by organizers; actual turnout fell short.
18,000 protesters counted by police in three cities, versus 36,000 claimed online.
2 or more Frankfurt stores were looted; Molotov cocktails hit emergency crews.
100 attackers threw bottles, stones and fireworks at Frankfurt police, Hesse estimated.
Why it matters: The campaign group Gen Z regelt opposes compulsory military service and wants more money for education. It also demands lower living costs, more climate protection and fairer burden-sharing.
Germany faces weak growth and pension strain as its working-age population shrinks.
The federal interior ministry said parts of the far-left extremist scene joined mobilization efforts.
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Political Bias
Coverage by lean% of 9 sources
9 sources · 13 articles · 67% Center coverage
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the story is young people's grievances about cuts and costs or left-wing groups using the protests for violence.
Center coverage, 6 sources: The center sees a mostly peaceful youth movement over living costs that turned violent in parts of Frankfurt and Hamburg.
Left coverage, 2 sources: The left sees frustrated young Germans protesting education cuts and military spending, with talk of violence distracting from their concerns.
