Much has been written in the media about the victory of the far right Alternative for Germany party for the leadership of the Sonnenberg district in the East German state of Thuringia. The party's candidate won nearly 53 percent of the vote in a victory over his opponent from the Christian Democratic party). However, it seems that one unforgettable sight overshadowed all the reports: a day after the elections, a vehicle with the writing "Deportation Volunteer Helper" was parked near a kindergarten in Sonnenberg. A man dressed in neo-Nazi clothes (on his shirt was a picture of a Wehrmacht soldier with the cynical inscription “Wehrmacht wieder mit,” i.e., "Who's joining the Wehrmacht again?”) handed out blue balloons to the kindergarteners. He was seen wearing red, white, and black pants – the colors of the German Reich. Here is another way in which already at an early age party activists inculcate the ideals of National Socialism: xenophobia, antisemitism, Aryan supremacy. Yes, even in 2023.
For a long time the ticking bomb has been lying below the surface in the territories of the former East Germany, where it rustled and rumbled. Now it has exploded. Many residents flooded with anger and frustration toward the current government have now voted with their feet. Will Germany be able to deal with the far-right tsunami that is sweeping its cities from the east?
"The Sonnenberg district is writing history." This is how the party leader in Sonnenberg, Robert Sesselmann reacted following his victory. "We will prepare for the next national elections and bring about a real earthquake," the leader of the party in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, was quoted as saying. Unfortunately, they may be right in their prophecy. This is the first time that an extreme right wing, nationalist party with clear antisemitic and Nazi roots has won the elections for the head of a district in Germany. Although this is the smallest district in Germany, history shows that the Nazi party grew precisely from this "small and unimportant" district. Björn Höcke, the most extreme right-wing figure in the party, was labeled by the German intelligence forces as a threat to democracy in the country. He has his eyes on the local elections next year and has no intention of stopping there.
The Alternative party is currently the strongest political force in Thuringia. According to recent national polls, the party is in second place with support of no less than 18-20 percent, meaning that it has doubled its strength since the last elections. This is a dangerous situation, especially for minorities in the country.
Does the message coming out of Sonnenberg last week also resonate among the Israeli government in Jerusalem? Is it clear that these are not friends of the State of Israel, and certainly not of Jews? Do they hear the dangerous rumblings below the surface that distort the Holocaust and the crimes of the Germans? Those who glorify the Wehrmacht and see the 12 years of the Nazi regime as "bird droppings" and nothing more? Let there be no mistake: the Alternative for Germany party was not and will not be an “alternative” for Israel and Jews, even if they consider themselves "Israel's most loyal friends.”
As the saying goes, show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.
Much has been written in the media about the victory of the far right Alternative for Germany party for the leadership of the Sonnenberg district in the East German state of Thuringia. The party's candidate won nearly 53 percent of the vote in a victory over his opponent from the Christian Democratic party). However, it seems that one unforgettable sight overshadowed all the reports: a day after the elections, a vehicle with the writing "Deportation Volunteer Helper" was parked near a kindergarten in Sonnenberg. A man dressed in neo-Nazi clothes (on his shirt was a picture of a Wehrmacht soldier with the cynical inscription “Wehrmacht wieder mit,” i.e., "Who's joining the Wehrmacht again?”) handed out blue balloons to the kindergarteners. He was seen wearing red, white, and black pants – the colors of the German Reich. Here is another way in which already at an early age party activists inculcate the ideals of National Socialism: xenophobia, antisemitism, Aryan supremacy. Yes, even in 2023.
For a long time the ticking bomb has been lying below the surface in the territories of the former East Germany, where it rustled and rumbled. Now it has exploded. Many residents flooded with anger and frustration toward the current government have now voted with their feet. Will Germany be able to deal with the far-right tsunami that is sweeping its cities from the east?
"The Sonnenberg district is writing history." This is how the party leader in Sonnenberg, Robert Sesselmann reacted following his victory. "We will prepare for the next national elections and bring about a real earthquake," the leader of the party in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, was quoted as saying. Unfortunately, they may be right in their prophecy. This is the first time that an extreme right wing, nationalist party with clear antisemitic and Nazi roots has won the elections for the head of a district in Germany. Although this is the smallest district in Germany, history shows that the Nazi party grew precisely from this "small and unimportant" district. Björn Höcke, the most extreme right-wing figure in the party, was labeled by the German intelligence forces as a threat to democracy in the country. He has his eyes on the local elections next year and has no intention of stopping there.
The Alternative party is currently the strongest political force in Thuringia. According to recent national polls, the party is in second place with support of no less than 18-20 percent, meaning that it has doubled its strength since the last elections. This is a dangerous situation, especially for minorities in the country.
Does the message coming out of Sonnenberg last week also resonate among the Israeli government in Jerusalem? Is it clear that these are not friends of the State of Israel, and certainly not of Jews? Do they hear the dangerous rumblings below the surface that distort the Holocaust and the crimes of the Germans? Those who glorify the Wehrmacht and see the 12 years of the Nazi regime as "bird droppings" and nothing more? Let there be no mistake: the Alternative for Germany party was not and will not be an “alternative” for Israel and Jews, even if they consider themselves "Israel's most loyal friends.”
As the saying goes, show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.