German Far-Right Victory Raises Concerns Over Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial

A recent victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony-Anhalt has sparked alarm, with critics pointing to a pattern of antisemitic rhetoric and historical revisionism among its members. The article highlights several incidents that underscore these concerns, including a young supporter inadvertently making a Nazi salute during a victory celebration livestream, which was quickly stopped by a presenter.

AfD politicians have been accused of downplaying the Holocaust and promoting conspiracy theories. For instance, Ulrich Siegmund, who won an election in Saxony-Anhalt, refused to call the Holocaust Germany's worst crime. Manuel Krauthäuser, an AfD Bundestag member, shared a video promoting the conspiracy theory that the Rothschild family was responsible for the Titanic sinking, set to the song "Hava Nagila." Matthias Moosdorf, another AfD member of the Bundestag, faces proceedings for making a Nazi salute in parliament.

Further examples include Björn Höcke, the AfD leader in Thuringia, who was convicted for using a Nazi SS slogan and called for a "180-degree turn" in Germany's memory politics regarding the Holocaust. Dominik Kaufmann, an AfD Bundestag member, questioned Israel's motives in its conflict with Iran, comparing the age of the nuclear threat claim to that of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The party's stance against arming Ukraine, similar to its opposition to arming Israel, is also noted. The article warns Israelis against supporting the AfD out of ignorance or anti-Muslim sentiment, emphasizing that German nationalists may view Jews as foreigners, just as they did in the past. The AfD itself has indicated that Holocaust education may be reduced or canceled in Saxony-Anhalt if they gain power, leading to fears among memorial site managers of erasing memory culture. The Jewish community in Germany has united in opposition and boycott of the AfD.