Right-wing extremist youth groups in Germany: A growing danger!

Right-wing extremist youth groups in Germany: A growing danger!

A worrying phenomenon has developed in Germany in recent years: right-wing extremist youth groups are growing at a rapid pace. Loud Welt.de Several of these groups with hundreds of followers emerged within a year. The founding of new youth groups in the right-wing scene has been closely monitored by the police authorities since mid-2022, and initially these groups were formed primarily in virtual space.

A striking example is the “Young and Strong” group, which now has a mid-three-digit number of followers. There is also “Deutsche Jugend Voran” with an estimated more than a hundred members and other relevant groups such as “Der Störtrupp” and “Last Defense Wave”. The latter are currently in focus after a nationwide raid in which several young people were arrested who were allegedly planning attacks on asylum accommodation.

A network of radicalization

The new right-wing extremist youth culture is not only active locally; It is networked nationwide and uses platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for recruitment and mobilization. This form of networking ensures that more and more teenagers and young adults become part of these extremist movements. The Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution has even reported a significant increase in right-wing extremist agitation on the Internet since the summer of 2024, which indicates that the potential for violence in these groups is high Stern.de.

The enemy images of these groups are diverse: people of the Muslim faith, foreigners and left-wing political actors are the focus of their attacks. What is particularly alarming is the fact that the fight against the LGBTQ community is seen as a “door opener” to the right-wing extremist scene.
Experts emphasize all the more the need for local communities such as families, schools and clubs to react more actively to radicalization. Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt advocates preventive measures and calls for better support for teenagers and young adults.

The impact of digitalization

Digitalization represents a particular challenge in combating radicalization. The corona pandemic has shifted social activities to the digital space, which benefits extremist actors. Many young people who experience isolation and powerlessness look for belonging and find this in radical ideologies that can lower their inhibitions towards violence. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution reports a “marked weakness in mobilization” among some right-wing extremist parties, but an increase in the youth organization “Young Nationalists” (JN), for which violent attacks have also been documented.

The violence perpetrated by these groups is reaching alarming levels, as five young people from the Last Defense Wave group were arrested in May and were planning serious crimes. Loud WDR.de Professionally equipped youth work is seen as the best way to prevent extremism, but there is often a lack of resources and attention.

In summary, the picture that emerges from these developments is alarming. The challenges are great, and it is crucial that both society and politics do not ignore the alarming signs and take active countermeasures before it is too late.