Police Crackdown on Neo-Nazi Group in South Germany
Police carry out raids against radical far-right group - Infiltration and Search Operation on Radical Far-Right Faction
Baden-Württemberg authorities have stormed the homes and workplaces of nine suspected members of the neo-Nazi organization "Brothers of Honour – Chapter South Germany." With search warrants in hand, officials raided 18 locations, primarily in Baden-Württemberg, but also in Karlsruhe, Sigmaringen, and Waldshut. No arrests were made during the operation.
While there, they seized a range of incriminating items, including clothing bearing the "Brothers of Honour" insignia, Nazi memorabilia, an SS dagger, CDs from far-right rock bands, around 50 electronic devices such as smartphones, various weapons like knives, stun guns, brass knuckles, and blackjacks, a crossbow, and an air rifle.
These individuals stand accused of maintaining a banned organization, believed to be the German division of the international neo-Nazi network, "Blood & Honour," which has been illegal since at least 2022. Operating covertly under the alias "Brothers of Honour," authorities allege they sought to continue the operations of "Blood & Honour Division Germany."
Founded in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s by Ian Stuart Donaldson, lead singer of the right-wing rock band Skrewdriver, "Blood & Honour" promotes white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies through music, propaganda, and activism. The organization serves as a key link in the global neo-Nazi and right-wing extremist scene by coordinating concerts, distributing propaganda materials, and facilitating networking within the movement.
Other police forces in the southwest simultaneously targeted suspected authors of hate and incitement online, with more than 170 deployment actions taking place across all 16 federal states. The suspects were accused of inciting hatred and insulting individuals, including politicians, on social media platforms. There were searches, interrogations, and identification measures carried out during these operations.
Although the raid against the "Brothers of Honour – Chapter South Germany" resulted in minimal police activity in the southwest, it highlights ongoing efforts to crack down on extremist groups and counter hate speech in the region. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has been waging a persistent battle against internet-based hate crimes for several years by conducting regular action days dedicated to combating online hate speech.
- Raid
- Organization
- County
- Germany
- Baden-Württemberg
- Stuttgart
- Right-wing extremists
- Internet
- Hate speech
- General Prosecutor's Office
Insight: The international right-wing extremist organization "Blood & Honour" is a neo-Nazi network originally founded in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It operates as a loosely connected group promoting white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies through music, propaganda, and activism. The organization has chapters or affiliated groups in multiple countries, including Germany.
- The raids on the homes and workplaces of suspected members of the far-right organization, "Brothers of Honour – Chapter South Germany," in various EC countries like Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe, Sigmaringen, and Waldshut, were conducted as part of a larger effort to combat the activities of right-wing extremists.
- The German division of the international neo-Nazi network, "Blood & Honour," which has been illegal since at least 2022, aims to perpetuate its operations under the alias "Brothers of Honour," and their activities online contribute significantly to the spread of hate speech on the internet.
