The Rise of Germany's Far-Right Youth | EXCLUSIVE

Mar 21, 2025 | The return of the far right in Germany seemed impossible - until it happened. As the living memory of World War II fades, a new generation of neo-Nazis is exploiting social media to draw young people into the world of right-wing extremism.

At the 2025 German elections, the hard-right Alternative for Germany party came second - the far right's best election performance since 1945.

The AfD's emergence has sent German politics into meltdown over who could or should be called a ‘Nazi.’ While the AfD and its most famous supporter Elon Musk have been pushing the narrative that ‘past guilt’ and ‘crimes of the past’ should be consigned to history, critics argue that the party, led by Alice Weidel, is itself a threat to German democracy.

Germany is grappling with the fact that, for Generation-Z, information learned on social media platforms like X, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram determines political beliefs like never before. The stakes could not be higher for a country that has always led the way in facing up to the horror of a dark past.

Germany Boosts Massive European Defense Spending for Ukraine: How Will the Money Be Spent? | DW News

Mar 21, 2025 | German lawmakers have agreed to provide an additional 11 billion euros in support for Ukraine in the coming years. The agreement includes an additional 3 billion this year alone. Germany's Conservatives, Social Democrats, and Greens agreed on a deal to loosen debt restrictions on military spending. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz had made the relaxation of the so-called debt brake a prerequisite for the additional Ukraine aid.

Can Germany and France Unite to Strengthen Western Democracies? | Berlin Briefing Podcast

Mar 21, 2025 | Donald Trump is rapidly reshaping the relationship with America’s allies. Will Trump’s policies push EU states to finally speak with one voice? Why should anyone who cares about democracy be paying close attention to the relationship between Germany and France? Why is Germany tightening its travel advice for the US? And what does the Statue of Liberty have to do with it all? In this episode of Berlin Briefing, DW’s Nina Haase discusses the future of Franco-German relations with her guests Max Hofmann, head of News and Current Affairs at DW, and Jacob Ross, a research fellow at DGAP.

Europeans should dump Trump and turn their backs on the US. Trump thinks he’s making America great again, but in fact he’s destroying it. – © Mark Alexander

Germany Just Dropped an Unexpected New Bombshell on Musk

Mar 19, 2025 | Germany just blindsided Elon Musk with a bombshell aimed squarely at where it hurts him the most!

Why the Trillion Euro Spending Spree Is a 'Historic Shift' for Germany | DW News

Mar 18, 2025

How Hitler Radicalized Germany | Timeline

Oct 26, 2024 | Discover how Hitler and the Nazis seized power in Germany and ushered in the death of democracy. This video examines how the National Socialists exploited economic turmoil to get into power before leading the nation into an era of militarism and horror.

Germany 1933: The Rise of Hitler and the Persecution of the Jewish People | Slice Full Documentary

Feb 5, 2025 | Germany, 1933. Adolf Hitler, at the head of the Nazi Party, has just become Chancellor and is faced with leading a republic in the throes of economic crisis and rampant inflation. He used the cult of personality nurtured by his propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, who spread the Nazi’s xenophobic and anti-Semitic ideology which Hitler had been touting since the First World War and which he reiterated in Mein Kampf: the Jews, he claimed, were part of an international conspiracy against Germany.

He would use the power of the German state, which had become the Third Reich in 1934, to progressively exclude the 600,000 German citizens of Jewish origin from society, first by forcing them to emigrate, then annihilating them.

Physical violence against Jews became widespread from the summer of 1935, the growing number of exactions leaving German society largely indifferent. Meanwhile, in the interior ministry, Nazis lawyers defined what it mean to be Jewish, thereby identifying who should be excluded. The Nuremberg laws of September 1935 notably withdrew German nationality from the country’s Jews.

On 12 March 1938, the Third Reich annexed Austria without encountering any opposition, and without the slightest reaction on the part of Western democracies. Eichmann set up a central bureau to force Austria’s 100,000 Jews to emigrate, leaving behind all their possessions which were seized by the Reich.

But Western democracies were not prepared to welcome the refugees, and the Evian conference, initiated in July 1938 by US president Franklin Roosevelt, was doomed to failure. As a neutral country bordering Germany, Switzerland called for the passports of Jews fleeing the Reich to be stamped with a “J”, so it could refuse them entry for fear of them wishing to stay in the country.

Documentary: Annihilation EP1 : The End of Illusions (2016)
Director: William Karel & Blanche Finger
Production: ZADIG PRODUCTIONS

Trump Considers Pulling Troops Out of Germany

THE TELEGRAPH: It is understood that the president is considering redeploying personnel to Hungary, which has maintained a close relationship with Russia

Donald Trump is considering pulling US troops from Germany and redeploying them to Eastern Europe, The Telegraph can reveal.

Mr Trump is weighing up withdrawing some 35,000 active personnel out of Germany in a move that would further sour US-Europe relations.

…

The Telegraph understands that the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary, which has maintained a close relationship with Russia. » | Connor Stringer, Deputy US Editor | Friday, March 7, 2025

Allemagne : une voiture fonce sur la foule à Mannheim, deux morts et plusieurs blessés

LE FIGARO : Le drame survient dans un climat très lourd en Allemagne, où deux attaques à la voiture bélier ont été commises depuis décembre.

Un automobiliste a percuté des piétons ce lundi dans le centre de Mannheim, ville à l’ouest de l’Allemagne, faisant au moins deux morts et plusieurs blessés graves, a indiqué la police, qui a interpellé le suspect. L’homme arrêté est un Allemand de 40 ans, ont annoncé les autorités régionales. Mais elles n’ont pas dit s’il s’agissait d’un accident, du geste d’un forcené ou d’un possible attentat. » | Par agence Reuters et AFP agence | lundi 3 mars 2025

THE GUARDIAN:

Two dead after car driven into crowds in German city of Mannheim: Several people injured and driver of SUV arrested by police, who had warned of terrorist threats at carnivals »

Watch the NYT video on this attack here.

Who Is Friedrich Merz, Germany’s Likely New Chancellor?

After an election dominated by immigration and economic issues, Germany’s likely new chancellor is Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democrats. His party finished first with just under 29 percent of the vote and will need to form a coalition government.
Watch the NYT video here. | By Jim Tankersley, Nikolay Nikolov and James Surdam•February 24, 2025

Germany Election: Far Right Surge Is ‘Last Warning’, Says Friedrich Merz

THE GUARDIAN: Leader of victorious conservative alliance says centrist parties must work together to provide effective leadership

The doubling of support for the far right in Germany’s federal election was “the last warning” to the country’s mainstream parties to provide effective leadership, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s victorious conservative alliance, has said.

Speaking on Monday after his CDU/CSU alliance came first with 28.5% of the vote, the man who is on course to become the next German chancellor said centrist parties needed to heed the surge in support for the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).

“This is really the last warning to the political parties of the democratic centre in Germany to come to joint solutions,” Merz told a press conference. » | Kate Connolly in Berlin | Monday, February 24, 2025

Merz strikes urgent tone in calling for more European independence from US: Stance of German alliance’s leader could herald closer ties with France but ‘debt brake’ poses obstacle to spending »

Germany has swung to the right. What does that mean for the country – and Europe? The Guardian’s panel responds: Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU may have won the German election, but all eyes are on the far-right AfD after its huge gains »

What Does Friedrich Merz’s Election Victory Mean for Germany’s Foreign Policy? | DW News

Feb 23, 2025 | Friedrich Merz sharply criticized Donald Trump's administration and urged Europe to distance from Washington during a post-election panel airing on state broadcaster ARD. Merz said it was not certain what the future has in store for NATO and if Europe will need to act quickly to shore up its own defenses. He also criticized Trump confidant and tech billionaire Elon Musk for meddling in the German election campaign, saying that the "intervention from Washington were no less drastic, dramatic, and ultimately no less brazen, than the intervention that we have seen from Moscow."

The AfD's Nazi Connections Run Deeper Than You Think

Feb 22, 2025

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AfD Party Could Bring Germany to the ‘Disasters of Nazi Time’ | Former MEP

Feb 22, 2025 | “People in Germany do not want these people in government and responsibility.”

Fears that “nationalist” AfD party will return Germany to the “disasters of the Nazi time” if they win the federal German election tomorrow, says former MEP for Friedrich Merz’s CDU party Elmar Brok.

Germany’s Far-Right Comeback | NYT Opinion

Feb 22, 2025 | Germany is a world champion at confronting its own history. Through memorial after memorial, the country has attempted to atone for its atrocities during the Holocaust and World War II. “Never again” has become a nationwide slogan.

In this Opinion Video, the satirist Jan Böhmermann — think Germany’s John Oliver — argues that Germany’s repeated and increasingly hollow attempts to “remember away” its Nazi past have actually contributed to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany Party.

Germany is holding federal elections this month and the threat of a fascist resurgence is knocking on the nation’s door. The AfD is projected to become the second-largest party in the German parliament.

A Win for the Right? Trump's Administration and Germany's Election | DW Analysis

Feb 22, 2025 | The reach of the US President is a part of the German election. Last week US Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference and accused Germany (indirectly) of censoring political opinions, namely the Alternative for Germany party. The second largest in Germany. Vance also met with AfD Chancellor candidate Alice Weidel. Has this White House attempted to engineer the outcome of the German election?

Young, German and Voting Far-right | ITV News

Feb 14, 2025 | ITV News travels across Germany to find out why so many young voters are set to turn to the far-right AfD party in the country's upcoming election.

German Far-right AfD Wants Mass Deportations, Afghans Worried

Feb 22, 2025 | As the German election approaches, the far-right Alternative for Germany Party (AfD) is gaining momentum by pushing for stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations and its controversial “Remigration” plan for large-scale refugees deportation. Recent violent attacks by Afghan asylum seekers have fueled the anti-migrant sentiment, giving the AfD an opportunity to strengthen its demands for tougher asylum laws.

The AfD argues that Germany cannot solve Afghanistan’s problems and insists on sending refugees back, regardless of the dangers they may face. The far-right party is now polling as the second-strongest political force, while even the center-right CDU has backed tougher immigration measures in Parliament, controversially aligning with the AfD in a move that sparked protests. Meanwhile, Afghan refugee Sara Seerat, who fled Taliban rule, fears that politicians advocating mass deportations fail to understand why people like her are forced to leave their countries.

With the German election just days away, the reaction to these debates could shape the country’s future stance on immigration, asylum, and refugees deportation.

Dark Past Returns: The Far Right in Germany

Feb 21, 2025 | "Dark Past Returns" is a powerful and chilling TRT World exclusive documentary that explores the rise of far-right ideologies in contemporary Germany. It examines the forces behind this extremist movement and its growing influence on politics today, revealing the lingering shadow of Germany’s Nazi history.

Niklas Frank, the son of Hans Frank, Nazi governor general in German-occupied Poland, offers a sobering perspective, stating, "We are about 82 million people, and I would say only 1 million of them are really true Democrats. The rest are nothing more than prepared to live in another dictatorship." This highlights the far right’s continued influence, particularly with the rise of the AfD. Through voices like Frank’s, viewers witness the ideological shift in Germany.

The film also exposes the AfD’s dangerous vision and its threat to Germany's democracy. Journalist James Jackson notes, "The AfD is the voice of Pegida … Islamophobia is at the core of their message," emphasising the movement's divisive rhetoric. As fears of migration rise, the film warns of the AfD’s potential to gain power. Niklas expresses deep concern, saying, "If AfD comes to power, they will for sure throw out all the migrants if they can."

TRT World’s documentary also investigates the contradictions within the AfD. Despite the party's manifesto explicitly stating, "Islam does not belong to Germany," Stefan Keuter, a member of the German parliament from the AfD, gave an exclusive interview where he claimed, "The AfD shares many common points with Muslims." He even described Bjorn Hocke, a key figure in the AfD known for his anti-Islam views, as one of the party’s best politicians. The question remains: what is the true face of the AfD?

With stark statements like, "The AfD doesn’t have an economic model … They are spreading lies and creating division," the documentary highlights how the far right manipulates fear and division in Germany.

LGBTQ+ Community in Germany Rally against Rise of Far Right ahead of Elections

THE GUARDIAN: Community grapples with fear over ‘proliferation and normalisation of anti-queer and anti-trans sentiment in politics and the media’

They poured on to streets across Germany by the thousands, waving rainbow flags and signs that read “Choose Love”. Days before an election in which the far right is expected to catapult into second place in Germany’s parliament, the simultaneous rallies in 50 municipalities were billed as a show of strength by an LGBTQ+ community as people braced for what might lie ahead.

“Many queer people are unsettled by the social and political situation,” the organisers of the mid-February, cross-country initiative wrote on their website. “The tone against us is getting harsher, and liberal democracy is under pressure.”

For years, rights campaigners have come up against the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and its opposition to marriage equality, safe community spaces and access to healthcare and reproductive justice.

Sunday’s election, however, could leave the LGBTQ+ community grappling with an intensified challenge as polls suggest support for the AfD is set to double, yielding a result that would be unprecedented in the country’s postwar history. » | Ashifa Kassam in Berlin, and Jakub Krupa | Friday, February 21, 2025