Right-wing violence in Märkisch-Oderland: Alarming numbers continue to rise!

Right-wing violence in Märkisch-Oderland: Alarming numbers continue to rise!

In the Märkisch-Oderland district, the number of right-wing motivated incidents rose to 384 in 2024, an increase of 83 compared to the previous year. These worrying developments were announced on July 4, 2025 by the Advice Center for Victims of Right-Wing Violence. The majority of documented incidents are classified as propaganda, including right-wing stickers and flyers with anti-democratic content. Particularly alarming are the eight attacks on people, which were almost exclusively racially motivated, and the increased potential for violence against minors and political dissidents. Racism remains the main motive for this violence, with people perceived as non-white or non-German at greatest risk. People with different political views, alternative young people, politicians from democratic parties and queer people are also increasingly affected.

The Strausberg area in particular and the S-Bahn line 5, which runs along the towns of Neuenhagen, Petershagen and Hoppegarten, are considered hotspots of right-wing violence. Incidents are also increasing in Bad Freienwalde and Müncheberg. The advisory center urgently appeals to the population to report graffiti and swastikas and emphasizes the need to strengthen civil society in order to counteract such social developments. RBB24 reports on the alarming statistics and points out the importance of not looking the other way.

Specific incidents and intimidation

The situation on the ground is underlined by a series of incidents that are weighing heavily on the mood in the region. An incident from January 2024 shows that stickers from the right-wing extremist AfD youth organization “Junge Alternative” with the slogan “Remigration” were displayed on the old tax office in Bad Freienwalde. This organization is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist and only dissolved at the end of March 2025. But that is not the only incident: a Syrian employee at a gas station was racially insulted and attacked in February 2024, which further highlights the tense situation. ND Aktuell highlights civil society that suffers from the pressure of such incidents.

Political opponents are not safe either: In April 2024, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, then Vice President of the Bundestag, was harassed and threatened during a visit to the castle. Such acts show how far the attacks on democracy and its representatives have already gone. A frightening example is an incident in June 2024, when a Hitler salute was shown on the sidelines of a festival and a shooting gesture was made from a passing car. Such incidents make it clear that right-wing extremism is a serious problem in the region.

General trends in right-wing extremism

The Federal Agency for Civic Education provides a comprehensive insight into the increase in right-wing extremist acts of violence. In 2020, 23,604 right-wing extremist crimes were counted nationwide, with the number of violent crimes increasing from 986 to 1,092. A frightening development that shows that the right-wing extremist threat in Germany is constantly growing. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution estimates that around 32,000 people in Germany are right-wing extremists, of whom 13,000 are considered to be violent. BPB also provides information about the large number of hostilities and attacks against political opponents, which have led to several mayors resigning from their offices out of fear.

For an open society, it is of great importance to seriously fight the fight against right-wing extremism and to mobilize civil society. The ongoing attacks and aggressive rhetoric from right-wing extremist groups require a strong and united demeanor from democratic forces in society. It is high time to decisively address the conflict over social values.