A spate of attacks on AfD politicians signals a rise in violent Left-wing extremism across Germany, writes Ralph Schoellhammer in UnHerd, . Here’s an excerpt.
At the time of writing, Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the German Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD) is under observation at a hospital, after what appears to have been a potential attack with a needle-like object. The German authorities are still investigating the incident, but it is as of yet unclear what precisely happened.
Even if there was no political motivation behind the attack, it serves as a reminder of the increase in Left-wing political violence occurring across Germany. Overall, Left- and Right-wing extremism in Germany show a similar number of incidents, but in recent years the Left has begun to move from ‘general’ violence (for example at demonstrations) to more specific targeting of individuals.
In May 2023, a local court in Dresden sentenced the Left-wing extremist Lina E. to five years in prison. The 28-year-old student and a few others founded a group with the specific goal to “hunt Nazis” and beat them up. At least 13 people were injured by this violent gang, including two victims who almost got killed. The group became known as the ‘hammer gang’ since they used said tool to attack those whom they believed to be Nazis. As the court states, whether the victims were in fact members of Nazi movements remained unclear.
The case itself was less remarkable than was its reception by elements of the German media, which seemed to be confused as to why a group of people who want to harm alleged Right-wing extremists should be persecuted at all. A prominent member of the public broadcaster ZDF tweeted that “an easy way not to become the victim of Left wing violence is not to be a Nazi”. During the reading of the verdict, there was applause and standing ovations for Ms. E., who used the occasion to thank her supporters.
Another recent victim is Augsburger AfD politician Andreas Jurca, brutally beaten up in August, says Schoellhammer.
Yet the tactic may backfire, he adds: “When the Bavarian politician Hubert Aiwanger and his small party of ‘Free Voters’ became the victim of a failed smear campaign by a German newspaper a few weeks ago, their numbers hit record highs in the polls.”
Worth reading in full.
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Yes it’s certainly a sign that the Left are getting rattled and feeling threatened now that the AfD are gaining so much support. The co-leader was also threatened so she and her family are now in hiding under police protection;
”Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was recently escorted to a safe house along with her family after security officers learned of a credible planned attack on the politician.
“The weekend before last, there was a safety-related incident. Ms. Weidel and her family were taken from their private apartment to a safe place by security authorities because evidence had accumulated that pointed to an attack on her family,” said Weidel’s spokesman on Tuesday.
Weidel was notably absent from her party’s rally in Mödlareuth on Tuesday where she was expected to be the keynote speaker to mark German Unity Day, a national holiday in the country to commemorate German reunification in 1990.
The right-wing politician has refrained from making public appearances following the recent attack threat and instead addressed the supporting crowd via a pre-recorded video message in which she said, “I would love nothing more than to be with you today, but unfortunately I can’t.”
https://rmx.news/germany/afd-leader-has-family-taken-to-safe-house-and-cancels-rally-due-to-attack-threat/
Lucky to get police protection. Farage was not protected by the state; I understand they directly refused.
Same has happened to RFK Jr in the US.
Yes – and in view of his family’s tragic history, that was a despicable decision made, we’re told, by Biden.
The political class encourage this by falsely labelling anyone who disagrees with them as “right wing”. That may seem to validate violence against them in the eyes of these left wing thugs.
the political class is so far removed from everyday life they fail to see the point of countering the left wing narrative. Meanwhile there are many others only too pleased with the extreme left.
there is no one in politics anywhere, it seems, who is interested or capable of reminding the left, the media and any right wingers they can find (there are so few) that capitalism, democracy and liberty are rare in the world, valuable and should be nurtured. Of course I mean the true versions of these, not the diluted versions the current political class have reduced us to.
JRM tries a bit but without the audience or vigour needed (he is too intellectual for journos or the public, I fear) but who else?
I’m pleased Musk is bringing attention to this situation too. Anything he tweets gets masses of views;
”AfD Co-Chair Tino Chrupalla is in intensive care after an attack on him with a syringe in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt, as Gateway Pundit reported. While the leftist German media attempted to ignore the attack, Elon Musk chimed in and was seen by 280,000 users.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) party chair Tino Chrupalla was attacked with an unidentified object before a rally in Ingolstadt while taking selfies with two young men he later pointed out to police as the culprits, who were photographed grinning as they were detained by police. Antifa terrorists are rarely or never arrested or tried in Germany, since they are protected by the leftist government.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/10/unreal-elon-musk-speaks-up-about-assassination-attempt/
Civil wars are coming…..
This here is what we’ve talked about a lot at DS. This is also what the AfD want to stop. No wonder they’re being targeted. Anybody seeing what’s happening to the society they live in and not asking the obvious is beyond help. ( <2min clip )
https://twitter.com/sophiadahl1/status/1709921649770770466
A bit like the JSO here then!
Far right extremists is their preferred term.
It’s not mine!
I object to “right wing” because that is not who I am.
Yes I’ve always considered myself as a centrist. Apparently I’m a Nazi now. In part because I’ve been radicalised by successive left leaning Conservative governments.
Well they will hopefully have less of an audience now that they have joined the mainstream media. I can just about tolerate Dewbs…for now!
JRM — are you having a laugh, Vox Populi Vox Dai BS!
He was on the front bench during the covid fascism, and what did he do…FA!
By “they” I guess you mean GBN, which I don’t think I mentioned.
UK Column provides an excellent news podcast Mon Wed and Fri
The problem isn’t so much the label of ‘right wing’, if used properly this is a neutral term. The problem is that reasonable political views such as those held by AFD, Farrage, sensible Tories such as Braverman etc. are all too often called extreme right or far right. This obviously has negative conatations as it implies an element of Nazism. Some people on the left then assume anyone on the right is by implication a neo Nazi. The biggest problem is when woke media outlets such as the Guardian use ‘right wing’ as a reason why a point of view is self evidently ‘wrong’ and should be ignored. This is just a lazy ad homien attack because the can’t, or can’t be bothered to, argue why a point of view may be wrong.
Even more reason to never ever vote for an establishment party candidate! Never buy or subscribe to MSM products. They only understand and respect one thing – rejection.
Angela Merkel will be a figurehead, no doubt?
“Extreme left wing extremists attack Nazis”…. .
The faux narrative continues unabated..
“I’d rarther live under Bolshevism than under capitalism”
Joseph Goebbels
Does any of the following sound ‘right wing’?
“…For you must also understand this, my people’s comrades: No leader can use more strength than his followers give him! What am I without you? What you do not give me, I can never use for your own benefit! If you refuse me your unanimous unity, what should I do?! I am a single man, I can possess the best will. The will is not worth more to you than your will is worth to me! And that brings us to the problem of freedom! Freedom, yes! Insofar as the interest of the national community gives the individual freedom, it is given! Where the freedom affects or even impairs the interests of the national community, the freedom of the individual ceases! Then the freedom of the national community takes the place of the freedom of the individual!”
A. H. (1937)
And then there is VW, or the People’s Car.
There is a certain irony that the former National Socialists are identified with the right wing.
Left-Wing Extremism On Rise Across Germany – Excellent. That’s fascism once again.
Hitler was not right wing.
The phrase “Right Wing” started out as “Right Wing Socialism”, which was the Bolshevik’s ironic description of Fascism. The inconvenient-to-the-left third word has been habitually dropped.
Hmm, let’s see. Woke identity politics, mass immigration, covid tyranny. Are these not all left wing extremist policies? Haven’t the left wing extremists been in government for some years now?
“An easy way not to become the victim of Left wing violence is not to be a Nazi” is a bit like blaming a woman for being raped because of her dress. To bring it into context of the current woke agenda the way for LGBTQetc people to escape victimisation is to be straight. I doubt those on the left would subscribe to that view!
Violence and hate is an abomination on all sides of the political divide.