Neo-Nazis march through Dresden: Police investigate extremists!

Neo-Nazis march through Dresden: Police investigate extremists!

According to police reports, around 50 to 70 right-wing extremists gathered on the Neumarkt in Dresden last Sunday. The group action, which is directly linked to the Identitarian Movement Germany (IBD), quickly moved on to Theaterplatz. There, the participants presented two banners, chanted xenophobic slogans and lit fireworks. The entire operation only lasted a few minutes before the neo-Nazis retreated, even before the police arrived. They left a banner and remains of pyrotechnics on site, which shortly later led to an investigation into the violation of the Assembly Act because the assembly was not reported.

The Identitarian movement, which has been classified as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2019, has increasingly gained a foothold in Germany. Originally founded in Germany in 2012, it has its origins in France. Under the banner of ethnopluralism, the movement pursues an agenda that puts forward traditional, value-oriented demands and sees itself as a defender of “Western culture,” which it sees as threatened by Islam and other influences. Their well-known slogan is: “We demand a cultural revolution” – a call that is strongly influenced by Islamophobic and racist positions. The group is known for its provocative actions, which are often spiced up with pop culture references, similar to a play about refugees that were overrun by them in Vienna.

Another incident in Dresden

But that wasn't the only incident recently: the previous Saturday, around 130 neo-Nazis disrupted Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Dresden and chanted homophobic slogans. These right-wing extremists were joined by members of the “Heimat” group, once known as the NPD, and the “Young Nationalists.” Here, too, some symbols that are related to the National Socialist past stood out. Some participants wore license plates with references to Adolf Hitler and the number 88, a well-known code among neo-Nazis for “Heil Hitler”. In addition, belt buckles with forbidden runes were discovered, which is why investigations were initiated against the German suspects for the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.

Police appear to be alarmed by the growing presence of these extreme groups in the city. Containment measures have already been initiated to prevent such incidents in the future. Regardless of the rapid developments in the extreme right, it is clear that society must deal with the challenges of right-wing extremism. Meanwhile, the emergency services affected must remain vigilant to ensure safe and respectful coexistence.