Hamburg's Two-Decade Fight Against Far-Right Extremism and Its Hidden Networks
For nearly two decades, the Hamburg Alliance Against the Right has tracked far-right extremism and its ties to mainstream conservatism. The group's work has exposed connections between organisations like the Staats- und Wirtschaftspolitische Gesellschaft (SWG) and the far right. Their efforts have also shaped political resistance in the city, including legal battles and public campaigns. The alliance formed as a response to rising far-right activity in Hamburg. Over the years, it has documented networks linking extremists to conservative circles, such as the SWG—a group classified as 'confirmed right-wing extremist' by the Verfassungsschutz in 2023. Despite this label, the SWG has kept organising events and maintaining ties with AfD-affiliated groups, as noted in recent intelligence reports.
One of the alliance's key strategies, *'All together against fascism'*, has aimed to limit the AfD's influence in the city. By informing landlords about far-right events and organising protests, they have disrupted public gatherings linked to the party. The group has also taken legal action, challenging authorities in court to secure protest routes and access official information. Beyond direct confrontation, the alliance has criticised local government failures. They accused Hamburg's red-green Senate of neglecting a full investigation into the NSU's murder of Süleyman Taşköprü. Members, including activist Felix Krebs, argue that effective antifascism requires persistence across all areas of society. The group does not rule out any form of action, insisting that meaningful resistance often demands uncomfortable choices.
The alliance's work has contributed to a lower AfD presence in Hamburg compared to other regions. Their mix of legal challenges, public pressure, and network exposure continues to shape the city's political landscape. The group remains active, stressing that long-term resistance must extend beyond protests into broader societal engagement.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
