As per reports, a large-scale peace demonstration took place in Hamburg under the theme ‘Capable of learning, not war-ready’ on Easter Monday (21 April).

• According to police estimates, approximately 2,600 individuals participated in the traditional Easter march, which proceeded from the Landwehr S-Bahn station to the St. Georg district in the city center.
• The event was organised by several groups, including the Hamburg Forum and the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (Verdi) trade union. The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, as confirmed by law enforcement authorities.
• The organizers expressed concern about the global risk of war due to the proliferation of weapons, noting the export of German arms beyond Ukraine and criticizing plans to station US long-range missiles in Germany. They warned that such deployments increase the risk of preemptive or accidental armed conflict, potentially endangering Germany and Western Europe.
• The Verdi trade union, co-organizer of the march, criticized the term ‘war capability’ recently used in political discourse. They emphasized that defense readiness should not equate to the militarization of society. Verdi further highlighted the connection between peace and social justice, arguing that military spending often diverts funds away from essential social programs and disproportionately affects low-income populations. The union called for comprehensive disarmament efforts both nationally and internationally.