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Thousands of young people participated in nationwide demonstrations across Germany on Saturday, October 31, and November 1, 2026, under the slogan “Gen Z regelt” (Gen Z takes charge). While the daytime rallies demanding better schools, relief from living costs, and social justice were largely peaceful, violence erupted in several cities as night fell.
Clashes and Looting in Frankfurt
Frankfurt police sealed off Die Zeil, one of Germany’s busiest shopping streets, on Saturday night after rioters smashed shop windows, looted stores, and attacked officers. Hesse’s state interior minister Roman Poseck stated that authorities suspect about 100 left-wing extremists instigated the violence, launching a massive attack with bottles, stones, and fireworks.
As chaotic scenes unfolded, dpa journalists witnessed people breaking into stores and stealing trainers and other goods. A specialist firearms shop was also targeted, leading to multiple arrests, according to a police spokesman. Police deployed water cannons and urged bystanders to leave the area.
Disturbances Across Other German Cities
In Cologne, about 200 people were involved in disturbances near Cologne Cathedral, where officers were targeted with bottles and bicycles. One person was injured, and five people were detained. According to regional broadcaster WDR, other groups besides Gen Z demonstrators took part in the Cologne riots. Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns expressed deep sadness that peaceful protests were overshadowed by extremists driven solely by violence.
In Hamburg, police estimated 6,700 people took part in demonstrations, with some black-clad and masked protesters tearing apart construction site barriers and throwing them onto the street to set them on fire. Police pushed the crowd back and used pepper spray and water cannons to clear Steintor square after protesters hurled fireworks. A police officer sustained light injuries in Bonn during a confrontation with protesters.
In Berlin, authorities monitored a separate rally near the Brandenburg Gate that grew to around 5,000 participants, while organizers claimed 10,000 attendees. Speaker Kaja Schwab criticized false promises from politicians, arguing that the youth are told hard work brings success while life becomes unaffordable and young people face renewed military recruitment. Police in Berlin initially reported isolated instances of egg and bottle throwing, alongside the illegal burning of pyrotechnics.
Police Response and Expert Warnings
Andreas Rosskopf, a senior federal police union representative, told the daily Rheinische Post that the protests were overall “very peaceful” and that property damage was not widespread initially. He noted that the clashes were driven by individuals acting independently, some wearing masks, and emphasized that security forces remained ready to prevent further late-night disturbances.
Education researcher Nina Kolleck warned that politicians must involve young people in decision-making or risk pushing youth away from political institutions. The University of Potsdam professor told Germany’s RBB Inforadio that excluding youth creates the impression of policies favoring the old over the young, pointing to decades of school underinvestment and climate change impacts as key frustrations.
