Panic in Germany as furious 'brainwashed' locals lurch to far-Right

By Zak Garner-Purkis, Investigations Editor

Germany is in crisis as an increasing number of young people are turning to the far-Right - and even Neo-Nazi groups.

As those with living memories of Adolf Hitler’s terrifying reign grow increasingly scarce fascists are exploiting social media to question some of the worst atrocities and accuse the Allies of ‘war crimes.’

The re-emergence of the extremism, particularly in East Germany, comes as hard-Right political party Alternative for Germany or AfD gains a foothold in mainstream politics.

At last month’s general election the party, who’ve attracted support from billionaire Elon Musk, finished second behind the conservative Christian Democratic Union.

It is a result which has sent shockwaves through the nation which has historically been resistant to groups on the hard-Right.

There are even some young people in Germany whop are proud to call themselves a 'Nazi' (Image: Phil Harris)

The AfD fiercely denies any suggestion their emergence is comparable to the rise of Hitler and when the Express tracked down deputy parliamentary leader, Beatrix Von Storch, in East Berlin she claimed those who’d identified parallels were enabling Neo-Nazis.

But there is an effort by Far-Right groups to re-contexualise the past.

The Express visited a rally in Dresden where over three thousand people took part in an event commemoration of those who lost their lives during the Second World War bombing of the city.

Amongst the masses dressed in black we found banners that questioned or trivialised the Holocaust and widespread accusations that the Allied Forces of committed “war crimes”.

Many of those who attended the protest were youngsters, one of whom was willing to do the unthinkable; step in front of a camera and proclaim they were a “proud Nazi.”

He issued a terrifying warning about how the stigma of calling yourself a Nazi was changing for younger generations.

“[It’s] because of people like me that are standing here and saying openly what I think. I am that's a signal for other young Germans to do the same,” he said.

You can watch the full documentary here.