A Nation Divided: Germany’s Struggle with the Far-Right and the Rise of the AfD
Last month, over a million people took to the streets across Germany to voice their opposition to the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a political party that has become a lightning rod for controversy. In Berlin alone, more than 100,000 protesters gathered on the lawn of the Bundestag, the German parliament, under a banner that read, "Defend democracy: Together against the right." The message was clear: the AfD’s brand of right-wing radicalism has no place in democratic Germany. Yet, in a shocking turn of events, the AfD has found unlikely allies in the United States, particularly within the Trump administration, which has openly embraced the party. This has sparked outrage and concern both in Germany and internationally, as the AfD’s ideology and rhetoric have drawn disturbing parallels to the country’s dark past under the Nazis.
The protests in Germany were a direct response to the AfD’s growing influence and its increasingly radical stance. Founded in 2013 as a eurosceptic party opposed to the European single currency, the AfD has since evolved into a far-right, nationalist movement with ties to neo-Nazi groups and the extremist Identitarian Movement. The party’s rhetoric has become increasingly xenophobic, with leaders advocating for the preservation of German identity and nationalism. Its leaders have also expressed sympathies for elements of Nazi ideology, downplaying the horrors of the Holocaust and promoting a revisionist view of German history.
One of the most infamous figures within the AfD is Björn Höcke, a history teacher and leader of a faction known as "The Wing" (Der Flügel). Höcke has been accused of using propaganda-like language reminiscent of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s chief propagandist, and has called for a "180-degree turn" in how Germans view their history. He has criticized the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, calling it a "monument of shame," and has advocated for the revival of the term Lebensraum, a concept used by the Nazis to justify their expansionist policies. Höcke’s ideology has been described as "pre-fascist" by experts, and his writings have drawn comparisons to Mein Kampf.
Despite these troubling associations, the AfD has gained significant traction in Germany, particularly in the formerly communist East. The party is currently polling second ahead of the German elections, with one in five voters still undecided. Its rise has been met with alarm by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, which has classified parts of the AfD as extremist and warned that the party poses a danger to democracy.
The Dangerous Allure of Nationalism: The AfD’s Rise and International Implications
The AfD’s rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed internationally. In a shocking intervention into the internal affairs of a key ally, members of the Trump administration have openly endorsed the party. In January, Elon Musk, one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers, appeared via video at an AfD campaign event in Halle, urging supporters not to be ashamed of Germany’s history. Musk called for Germans to take pride in their culture and values, dismissing multiculturalism as a "dilution" of national identity. He also criticized what he described as an overemphasis on historical guilt, a clear reference to the Nazi era. "It’s good to be proud of German culture and German