Right-wing extremism in Brandenburg: Alarming figures and dangers for young people!

Right-wing extremism in Brandenburg: Alarming figures and dangers for young people!

Current reports show that the number of right-wing extremists recorded by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has risen sharply in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in particular, there was an increase of 105 to a total of around 1,950 right-wing extremist people in 2024. This makes it clear that right-wing extremism in the state has taken on a worrying dimension. Loud The time Right-wing extremists make up the largest proportion of extremist potential here.

The development is alarming: in 2023, the number of politically motivated crimes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania reached a high of 3,317, which is almost 75% more than in the previous year. These crimes included 2,184 cases that were clearly motivated by right-wing extremism. Another worrying observation is the growth of right-wing extremist youth networks, which are increasingly organizing and radicalizing in the digital space.

Brandenburg in focus

In Brandenburg, the number of right-wing extremists rose by almost 570 to a total of 3,650. Around 1,600 of these people are organized in various parties, including the AfD and its youth organization, the Junge Alternative. In addition, there are around 420 right-wing extremists who are active in individual organizations such as brotherhoods and comrades or martial arts groups. Unfortunately, there are also around 1,000 “Reich citizens” and self-governors here, some of whom overlap with the right-wing extremists.

What is particularly worrying is that 40% of right-wing extremists known in Brandenburg are considered violence-oriented, with the number increasing by 130 to 1,430. In 2023, 113 politically motivated violent crimes were registered by right-wing extremists in Brandenburg, which represents a minimal decrease of four compared to the previous year. Interior Minister René Wilke highlights the danger that extremist ideas could penetrate more and more into the middle of society. He warns of the radicalization of young people, which is progressing at an “unbelievable speed”, especially under the influence of social media, which acts as a door opener.

The dimension of extremism

The developments in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are part of a larger phenomenon. Germany as a whole recorded around 39,400 extremist and 60,000 politically motivated crimes in 2023, both highs. Of the approximately 40,600 known right-wing extremists in Germany, around 14,500 are prepared to use violence. The frightening statistics show that around 25,700 right-wing extremist crimes were committed last year, with propaganda crimes and around 1,150 violent crimes being the most common.

It is recognized that extremism, whatever its form, aims to undermine the foundations of a democratic society and endanger the constitution. This also shows the comprehensive dynamics of violence and ideological blindness that are prevalent in the right-wing extremist spectrum. Such an environment requires more vigilant measures and preventive approaches to combat these ideologies and maintain social stability.

Information on right-wing extremist groups is available at Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to find. In the past, this institution has banned several groups such as “Combat 18 Deutschland” and “Weisse Wölfe Terrorcrew” in order to counteract the spread of such extremist ideologies. But the danger remains and the challenge remains great.

The developments require not only political measures, but also a broad social debate on the issue of extremism in order to promote and protect a vibrant, democratic and tolerant society.