The rise in racially-motivated hate crimes in Germany , particularly eastern Germany, is particularly contentious and disturbing, given the country’s not-so-distant history. The neo-Nazi movement is particularly strong in eastern Germany, and immigrants?both legal and illegal?have been targeted in their brutal attacks. Of late, the movement has witnessed a “new kind of vehemence,” according to Mario Peucker (biography) of the European Forum for Migration Studies at the University of Bamberg. He continues: “They don’t hide so much anymore, they now openly threaten to disrupt things.” Despite the illegality of the promulgation of neo-Nazi paraphernalia and memorabilia, neo-Nazis have appeared en masse in protests, which is protected by democratic freedom of expression. Their criminality, including displaying Nazi material, has been on the rise in recent years. However, xenophobic violent crimes seem to have actually declined, according to Peucker, while anti-leftist violence is rising.
Peucker’s contentions may be difficult to accept, given that on May 1, May Day, the extreme right-wing, along with left-wingers and unionists, rallied in violent force in Leipzig and Rostock, both in eastern Germany. More than 150 people were arrested, mostly leftist counter-demonstrators who want to eliminate right-wing extremism.
In response to the most recent attempted murder of a German citizen of Ethiopian origin, hundreds of protestors made their way to the streets on April 17 against the rising xenophobia in Potsdam, in particular, and in solidarity with the victim. Prosecutors have offered a $6,000 reward in the case (source). Authorities continue to investigate this most recent attack, on April 16, that has been called the worst attack since Germany’s reunification. A taxi driver rescued the man and told authorities that one of the two assailants may have been a woman, a plausible notion to police since women are not barred from membership and are typically quite violent when they do join. In 1990, the international spotlight shone embarrassingly on Germany; an Angolan man was murdered by skinheads in Brandenburg, and a foundation?the Amadeu Antonio Foundation?to address xenophobia was created in his honor in Berlin. Brandenburg state Interior Minister Joerg Schoenbohm has denounced the April 2006 attack and threatened “strong penalties” for those responsible. Brandenburg state officials contend that this attack is not part of a larger trend. Said the state spokesman: “As far as I can tell, there are an increasing number of minor attacks, insults, provocations, and, of course, foreigners will sometimes be insulted or bodily attacked, but never before in this dimension. This is for me an isolated incident, unlike anything I have seen before in all the years I have been on the job.” Germany has witnessed a migration of right-wing extremism from rural areas to more urban ones, likely because youth typically migrate toward city-life where jobs, housing, and like-minded youth can be found. However, recruiting often takes place in rural areas (source), called ‘village fascism,’ due to a lack in activities for youth and a collective silence from the older generations.
The German government has sunk over $183 million into federal programs to combat the radical right. Much of that funding went toward educational programs for youth. Now, debate is underway also to fund similar programs targeting the radical left and radical Islam. Importantly, “the extension should not happen at the expense of combating violence on the right. The case in Potsdam is another example of how acute the problem is,” said Gabriele Fograscher, a Social Democrat and expert on the right wing extremism. Others, like CDU parliamentarian Kristina Koehler, contend that all extremism should be countered in “a holistic way.” She offers that:”There are new, innovative approaches that tell us that we should no longer focus on certain strains of extremism, but rather work towards pushing one basic, liberal and democratic attitude.” The resurgence in neo-Nazism and the popularity of right-wing extremism is due to a complete lack in integration and assimilation of the two million+ foreign immigrants into mainstream society, a move that would have normalized and celebrating multiculturalism from the onset rather than polarizing and barricading ethnicities. This was problematic on both the German and immigrant sides.
The issue of xenophobia and racism are particularly pertinent in Germany in the lead-up to the World Cup soccer tournament , which begins on June 9 and will be hosted in various cities, including the east. The Berliner Tagesspiegel reported that skinheads were planning to disrupt the Cup, as the security apparatus is thinly stretched and would have little ability to counter . The Portugal News, of questionable reliability, contends that police have been attempting to infiltrate skinhead groups?possibly to include Hammerskin Nation and National Front?in anticipation of violence during matches involving African teams (source). For example, England will play Trinidad & Tobago in Nuremberg’s stadium, which is located directly next to an old Nazi parade ground. With bars open 24/7, intoxicated fans are likely to taunt right wingers, or the foreign presence may be exploited by right wingers, according to The Guardian. In an attempt to thwart hooliganism and excessive rivalry, some 3,500 English rabblerousers will be prevented from entering Germany.
Those in Germany during the time of the World Cup would be wise to learn to identify symbology of the extreme right. The ADL offers a good site for US right wing extremism, and the basic symbols are universal. Additionally, specific clothing in Germany?namely, the Thor Steinar, Lonsdale, Pitbull, Fred Perry, and Masterrace clothing lines and Doc Martins or New Balance sneakers?are also symbols of the right-wing scene: N stands for ‘national.’ As the Cup gets underway, avoid crowds, particularly near bars, and maintain a low and patient profile.
