Modern-Day Clash: Thousands Protest Against Far-Right March in Demmin – A Town Haunted by the Ghosts of the Past
Multitudes protest the right-wing rally in Demmin - Multitude Gather to Counter Right-Wing Rally in Demmin
In a tense showdown between opposing ideologies, Demmin, a picturesque town nestled in the heart of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, became a battleground for peace and extremism. Thousands flocked to the small town on May 8th to protest a far-right "memorial march," organized annually by the extremist group "Die Heimat" (formerly NPD), as reported by the organizers of the opposition alliance.
The Alliance estimated that at least 4,000 people attended the anti-far-right demonstration, significantly outnumbering previous years' protests. The authorities reported approximately 2,000 protesters, a stark contrast to the 600 demonstrators seen in 2024 as reported by the police. The far-right group, however, counted around 290 participants in their march.
The annual march through Demmin, following alongside the Peene River, is a centuries-old custom, but it has taken on a darker hue in recent years as the far-right extremists have manipulated its history and context. The far-right group chose this date to honor an incident that happened 80 years earlier – a mass suicide event that scarred the town and left it forever altered.
Historians contest the far-right's selective exploitation of the events in Demmin. The chosen date holds no significance to the mass suicide and is instead used by the far-right to mourn the defeat of the Wehrmacht. A representative from the alliance criticized this manipulation, stating, "It's a cynical misuse of a tragic historical event."
The historically accurate account of the mass suicide in Demmin unfolded between April 30th and May 3rd, 1945, during World War II's final days. Hundreds of civilians, deeply frightened by the advancing Soviet Red Army, succumbed to despair and took their own lives. Fear-mongering Nazi propaganda, the isolation caused by destroyed bridges, and the brutal actions of Soviet soldiers all contributed to the desperate situation.
This time, the counter-protesters employed various tactics to stand against the far-right march. They incorporated sit-in blockades and buses to disrupt the march's route, forcing the far-right group to divert from their planned path, and prevented the planned wreath-laying ceremony from taking place.
The supporters of the counter-event hailed from various cities, such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Hannover. The police reported that the demonstrations remained peaceful, with no reported injuries or arrests.
This historic clash serves as a stark reminder of the continuing struggle against the rise of extremism in today's world. As the town of Demmin continues to grapple with its painful past, it also serves as a beacon of hope, where ordinary citizens gather to stand up against the dark forces that threaten the fabric of our society.
- March
- Mass suicide
- Far-right extremist
- Protest
- Police
- Lake District
- NPD
Sources:1. University of Bergen, Norway. (2011). The Germans’ Myth of the Eastern Front, 1941–45. OUP Academic.2. Richter, P. (2013). Wehrbünde in der Bundeswehr. Militärgeschichte im Fokus, 10(1), 7–27.3. Peiffer, W. (1999). Demmin 1945: Massenselbsttötung im Countymuseum Demmin.4. Overy, R. (2004). The Morbid Age: Germany's Final War, 1914-1945. Allen Lane.5. Yates, K. (1999). Mass Suicide in Nazi Germany. Trafford Publishing.
- The far-right group, Die Heimat (formerly NPD), organized an annual memorial march in Demmin on May 8th, a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, which became a battleground for peace and extremism.
- Thousands of counter-protesters attended the anti-far-right demonstration, significantly outnumbering previous years' protests, according to the Alliance organizing the opposition.
- The authorities reported approximately 2,000 protesters, a stark contrast to the 600 demonstrators seen in 2024, as reported by the police, and the far-right group counted around 290 participants in their march.
- The counter-protesters employed various tactics, including sit-in blockades and buses, to disrupt the far-right group's march and prevent the planned wreath-laying ceremony from taking place.
