Young people right -wing extremists in North Rhine -Westphalia: Radicalization through Internet and Violence

Young people right -wing extremists in North Rhine -Westphalia: Radicalization through Internet and Violence

In recent years, a worrying trend has become apparent: more and more extreme right -wing youth groups are raising their voices in Germany and are primarily networking through social media. An evaluation of the Protection of the Constitution North Rhine-Westphalia indicates increased radicalization among young people who actively organize themselves in groups such as "The Sturm Troup", "Young and Stark NRW" and "Aachen Inferno". These changes are clearly visible, especially in social networks such as Instagram and Tikok, where the young people share pictures and videos that are often associated with right -wing symbols and glorification of violence. The WDR also writes that participants from these circles are shown in activities that go far beyond demonstrations and even carry out martial arts.

A particularly remarkable incident occurred in Dortmund, where there was a violent attack on the left-oriented pub "Hirsch-Q". In the course of the investigation, it turned out that this incident may be related to right -wing extremists. Local media report that four people were arrested after this incident. Political scientist Dierk Borstel warns: the young people who find themselves together in these groups often show significantly higher radicality than adults and see themselves as part of a great movement.

A look at the right -wing extremist scene

Last year more and more forming groups have become visible in Germany, with names such as "Unitas Germanica" and "Zollern-Youth active". Experts estimate that right -wing extremist agitation, especially since the summer of 2024, has increased significantly. The high violence potential of right-wing extremist adolescents feared by the security authorities is increased by experts such as the President of the Thuringian Constitutional Protection, Stephan Kramer, even by the digital space that favors "turbo radicalization". In particular, combating the LGBTQ community is considered an essential access to this scene.

What is that so many young people feel drawn to these extremist views? According to the WDR, you will often find a community and recognition on social media that you may miss in other areas of your life. Niklas Busch, a JN official from Dortmund, is an example of the younger actors who appear more and more openly and are also active on platforms such as TikTok to spread their ideologies. On these platforms, they not only share political content, but also present pictures of combat training, which is another sign of increasing militarization in these groups.

The challenge of prevention

Experts such as Dierk Borstel urgently demand prevention measures and professional exit programs for those who have radicalized in the extremist circles. It is important to react early to these developments in order to prevent the violent ideology from spreading further. In order to increase social acceptance and public awareness of this problem, the need for information and information campaigns is also pointed out.

summarized: The challenge with which society is confronted is enormous. The combination of internet radicalization and real gatherings creates a dangerous environment in which more and more young people are captivated by the right-wing extremist ideologies. The authorities are required to counteract this trend, whereby the development has shown in recent years that quick action is required here.