AFD’s Success in Thuringia and 100 Years Since NSDAP – Are We Repeating History?

On 1 September 2024, state elections were held in Thuringia (Germany) to elect members of the 8th Landtag (state parliament). The election results showed significant shifts in voter preferences, with dramatic losses for the incumbent governing coalition and gains for the AfD. Björn Höcke has been the head of the AfD’s regional branch in Thuringia since the party’s inception. It’s the first time the AfD has won a state election since its founding in 2013.

1. Who exactly is the AFD?

The AfD has been classified by the German judiciary as a “suspected extremist” party, although it does not reject democracy. The party has gained significant traction in Germany, particularly in eastern regions like Thuringia and Saxony, where it has performed strongly in elections. The AfD’s ideology is characterized by German nationalism, Völkisch nationalism, and national conservatism, with policies focusing on anti-Islam, anti-immigration, welfare chauvinism, and climate change denial.

2. Björn Höcke: Who is he?

Björn Höcke is a prominent German politician and a leading figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Born on April 1, 1972, he was a history teacher before entering politics. Höcke is known for his controversial and extremist views. He has been involved in several controversies, including making statements that have been criticized as antisemitic and neo-Nazi. In 2017, he referred to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as a “memorial of shame,” which led to calls for his expulsion from the AfD, although he remained in the party. He has also been fined for using Nazi slogans in speeches. Höcke admitted to using the phrase “Everything for Germany” (The slogan was used by the S.A. Stormtroopers, the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party, which engraved it on their standard-issue knives) but claimed that he had not known about its Nazi origin and compared it to the American slogan “America first.” But the fact that Höcke was previously a high school history teacher and that his party has repeatedly run into legal trouble for using the exact same phrase undermined his argument, leading to the court’s ruling.

3. What happened almost 100 years ago in Thuringia?

In 1929, the NSDAP achieved a notable electoral success in Thuringia. The party tripled its votes at the expense of traditional parties. They secured 6 seats in the Thuringian parliament.

Thuringia served as a testing ground for the NSDAP’s policies, such as “Gleichschaltung” (totalitarian control and coordination over all aspects of German society) and ethnic cleansing practices, allowing the party to gain governmental experience and implement policies that would later be expanded across Germany after their national takeover in 1933. This experimental approach was unique to Thuringia during the early stages of the Nazi rise to power.

4. What can you do now?

Educate Yourself and Others:

• Stay informed about political issues, historical contexts, and the psychological factors that contribute to extremism. Understanding the root causes of political extremism can empower individuals to challenge extremist narratives and misinformation.

Utilize Social Media Responsibly:

• Be mindful of the content you share on social media. Promoting positive narratives and fact-checking information before sharing can help combat the spread of extremist ideologies that thrive on misinformation.

Encourage Critical Thinking:

• Foster an environment where critical thinking is valued. Encourage discussions that challenge assumptions and promote nuanced understanding of complex issues, rather than accepting black-and-white solutions.

Promote Open Dialogue:

• Engage in conversations with people who hold different viewpoints. Listening and understanding opposing perspectives can help bridge divides and reduce polarization. This approach encourages critical thinking and can counteract the simplistic narratives often propagated by extremist ideologies.

Challenge Extremist Rhetoric:

• When encountering extremist language or ideas, whether online or in person, it’s important to speak out. This can involve questioning the validity of such claims, providing factual information, or simply expressing disagreement in a respectful manner.

Support Community Initiatives:

• Get involved in local organizations that promote inclusivity and understanding. Supporting initiatives that foster community engagement can help counteract the isolation that often leads individuals toward extremist groups.

Advocate for Policy Changes:

• Support policies that address the underlying social and economic issues that can lead to extremism, such as inequality and lack of opportunity. Engaging in civic activities, like voting and advocacy, can help create a more equitable society

Build Resilience Against Extremism:

• Understand the psychological factors that can lead individuals to embrace extremist ideologies. By promoting emotional resilience and providing support to those at risk, communities can help prevent individuals from turning to extremism.

5. Want to know more?

1. Germany’s far-right AfD: ‘We have a clear mandate to govern’
2. Nazis v. AfD, Can We Really Compare Germany’s New Far Right To Past?
3. German far right hails ‘historic’ election victory in east
4. Success of far-right AfD shows east and west Germany are drifting further apart
5. Alternative for Germany – Wikipedia
6. Germany’s far-right party has drawn controversial comparisons to Nazis and they’re forcing the country to reconsider how it deals with the Holocaust
7. The Development of the National Socialist Party in Thuringia, 1924–1930
8. Thuringia in the Weimar Republic – PDF
9. Psychological Features of Extreme Political Ideologies
10. Social Media and Political Extremism