Unleashing the Fury: Right-wing Extremism in Germany Today
Government agency tasked with investigating current national circumstances requested to compile a comprehensive review.
In 2024, the scene is set ablaze with a storm of extremism, driven by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the roaring conflicts across the globe. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany's domestic intelligence agency, paints a chilling picture in its annual report.
The Surge of the AfD
The AfD, the country's largest opposition party, has seen a whopping 77% increase in extremist elements, with an estimated 20,000 members[3][5]—a rise mirroring the party's growing membership and shift towards the far-right. Fueled by the inflammatory rhetoric of xenophobia, anti-minority, and Islamophobia, the AfD lays claim to significant political influence, with over 150 parliamentary seats following its 21% win in recent federal elections[3].
The Rhetoric & Actions of AfD Leaders
The firecracker speeches of AfD leaders, particularly during state election campaigns in eastern Germany, have sparked concerns. These speeches have frequently targeted the German constitution, stoking the flames of extremism[5].
The Impact on Germany's Extremist Landscape
The rise of extremism within the AfD has ignited the larger blaze of right-wing extremist activities:
- Criminal Escalation: Criminal activities motivated by right-wing extremism have seen a frightening surge, with a 47.4% increase in reported crimes last year. This surge includes rises in attempted murders (from 4 to 6) and arson cases (from 16 to 23)[3][5].
- BfV Surveillance: The BfV's extreme designation of the AfD allows for elevated surveillance of the party, but the party has challenged this designation in court, temporarily halting the classification[4][5].
Beyond AfD: The Broadening of Extremism
The escalation of right-wing extremism reaches far beyond the AfD:
- Violence-Oriented Extremists: The number of violence-oriented right-wing extremists assessed by the BfV saw an increase of 800 people last year, bringing the total to 15,300[5].
- The 'Reichsbürger' and Self-administrators: The BfV also observed an increase in the number of 'Reichsbürger' and self-administrators, a category that includes people who do not recognize the German state and reject democratic and rule-of-law structures. The number of people in this group rose by 1,000 to approximately 26,000[5].
The Dangerous Revival of Islamism
While the number of Islamist groups slightly decreased in previous years, the BfV now reports a slight increase. The Islamist potential rose by almost 4% to 28,280 people, with a reported 9,540 classified as violence-oriented[5]. This upward trend reverses a dangerous path for the Islamist scene.
The Middle East Conflict: Kindling for Extremism
The suffering of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza continues to fan the flames of extremism:
- In the Islamic Scene: Various Islamist groups are exploiting this suffering to recruit new followers[5].
- In the Far-Right Scene: The BfV observed the Middle East conflict being used to spread "anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic positions" in the far-right scene[5].
The Schism in the Left-wing Scene
On the left, the Middle East conflict has caused a fracture:
- Autonomous Left-wing Extremists: These extremists hold less publicly visible, pro-Israeli positions[5].
- Dogmatic Left-wing Extremists: On the opposite end, these extremists adopt more visible, pro-Palestinian positions[5].
European Espionage & Sabotage: Russian Influence
Across Europe in 2024, the BfV reports a sharp increase in indications of potential sabotage incidents. Russian intelligence services are suspected of being behind many of these activities, which include arson, vandalism, espionage, and propaganda activities across Europe[5]. These activities are carried out mainly by so-called "low-level agents," or "disposable agents," not trained intelligence officers, but hired for specific operations.
- In the broader realm of politics and general news, the surge of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with its escalating extremist elements and growing influence, has raised concerns about other war-and-conflict-related conflicts worldwide and their potential impact on Germany's extremist landscape.
- The BfV's annual report paints a chilling picture of the current situation, indicating an increase in criminal activities motivated by right-wing extremism, as well as a rise in the number of violence-oriented right-wing extremists and 'Reichsbürger' and self-administrators, reflecting a broader trend of extremism that extends beyond the AfD party.
