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Neumünster: AfD founds controversial youth group Generation Germany
Current news from Schleswig-Holstein: New AfD youth organization, football successes and commemorative events characterize the region.
Neumünster: AfD founds controversial youth group Generation Germany
In an eventful Neumünster last weekend, the AfD launched its new youth organization “Generation Germany”. At the founding event, around 30 yes and 2 no votes were counted for the new chairman Jasper Griebel. The 30-year-old aims to regain control of the youth organization, which previously had more independence. Prominent actors from the right-wing extremist scene were also present at this crucial meeting, including Götz Kubitschek, who is considered the chief ideologist of the new right, and the expelled AfD member Matthias Helferich, who is taking legal action against his exclusion. NDR reports that the event was accompanied by around 500 counter-demonstrators who wanted to send a clear signal against the rise of this new right-wing movement.
Griebel himself was extremely controversial when it was founded. He demanded that those who refused to integrate should leave the country and advocated setting up new nuclear power plants and equipping the Bundeswehr with nuclear weapons. These demands are sometimes met with strong criticism in the political landscape and raise questions about the future direction of the AfD. The fact that numerous representatives of the right-wing extremist front were present suggests that the AfD is trying to further radicalize its youth organization and leave the content unchanged. Tagesschau highlights the importance of the frontline organizations that are closely linked to extremist actors.
Radicalization of youth movements
The increasing radicalization of young people in the right-wing extremist spectrum cannot be overlooked. According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, virtual space is particularly a focal point. In this country, more and more young people, some even minors, are becoming open to violence-oriented ideologies. They are often active on social media like TikTok and Instagram, where they expose themselves to radical ideas. Radicalization often occurs without any apparent connection to classic right-wing extremist structures, which poses major challenges for the security authorities. Verfassungsschutz reports that digital echo chambers play a crucial role as “radicalization catalysts”.
These new movements are mobilizing against the LGBTIQ community and other social groups. The right-wing extremist youth group “Last Defense Wave” recently appeared with violent actions, with its members being on average between 14 and 21 years old. These developments should alarm all social actors and lead us to intensively consider the question of how we can protect young people from such extremist trends.