They are very young, and many of them have not even turned 15. They dress like the classic neo -Nazis of the last century: with bomber jackets (“bomberjacken”), military boots (“springerefel”) and shaved head. They carry tattoos and clothing with logos that refer to symbols of Nazism, such as swastika, SS or “sonnenrad” (solar wheel). These symbols are prohibited in Germany, so they modify them slightly to preserve their meaning without violating the law. In addition, they manifest themselves again and again in numerous cities in the country since January 2024.
Last week, the German police carried out raids against which, until now, it is the youngest terrorist group in the history of the Federal Republic. The group, which self -domices letzte verteidigungswelle (“Last defense wave”), It is presented as Savior of Western civilization and is composed of young people between 14 and 21 years. The Prosecutor’s Office has linked them with a incendiary attack against a shelter of refugees in Turingia, as well as an attack in a Brandeburgic left -wing cultural center.
This is not the only group that has emerged in recent months. The youth organization “Deutsche Jugend Voran” (“Ahead German youth”) has a presence in several federated states and promotes white supremacy and ultraconservative values.
Although it has not shown so far a level of violence comparable to that of other groups, it provides the ideology that many of these young people end up translating into actions. Another group, “Der Störtrupp” (“disturbing squad”), is more martial and stars in very visible actions during the demonstrations, which they go with uniforms that refer to the Hitler Squadrones.
It is also “Jung und Stark” (“Young and Strong”), very active in social networks, from where you disseminate hate messages and recruit new followers. Tiktok, Instagram, Telegram, as well as football teams and their “hooligans”, are currently the environments where younger Germans are being radicalized. This is a change with respect to the past, when ultra -right -wing music concerts were the main focus of capture. But there are more: Elblandrevolte, Steeler Jungs, Junge Nationalisten (JN), NationalRevolutionäre Jugend, Deutsche Jugend Zuerst, Pforzheim Revolte … gives the impression that every day a new radical group appears.
In a parliamentary response on May 16, the German government warns that these groups “represent a relevant risk because young people – whose values are not yet fully consolidated – are, in general, more vulnerable and more easily manipulable, which makes them especially prone to adopt and identify with propaganda and extremist ideologies.”
The government also highlights that the Internet and social networks – where these groups are very present – constitute a means of communication and connection with related people, independent of the origin or economic resources, and, therefore, easily accessible also for minors. According to the Executive, these groups “have a high mobilization potential”, and an acceleration is observed both in their formation and in recruitment, due to the constant presence of problematic content in social networks, which can reach all corners of the country.
“Since the first appearance, in the summer of 2024, of the aforementioned groups, an increase in extreme right -oriented groups oriented to action has been observed, mainly composed of adolescents and young adults,” the report continues. Until now, these groups “have managed to develop and consolidate their internal structures, establishing itself as a reference point for a new audience within the right -wing extremist scene: one more action oriented and less ideologically entrenched.”
The German government also warns that these minors show a high disposition to violence, so they represent «a potential danger for people who correspond to the ideological enemies defined by these groups. Among them are, in particular, members of the LGBTQ community, people from the left -wing political environment and people with migratory history ».
One of the objectives of these groups are the celebrations of the homosexual pride day, against which they have manifested in numerous sites and have attacked their participants. Hate crimes and aggressions for ideological motivations, especially those of the extreme right and those cataloged as anti -Semites, have increased by up to 40% during the last 2024, according to a report presented by the Federal Office of Criminal Police on May 20. Extreme right crimes increased from 28,945 in 2023 to 42,788.