12-05-2025
Flyers from far-right extremist group distributed at German schools
Flyers from the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement have been found at schools in several German states, according to reporting by DPA.
The flyers target students specifically, and appear to be part of an attempt to gain young followers.
The title of the leaflets reads, "Teachers hate these questions". Text on the back of the flyers suggest that Germans have become a minority group, while also stirring up fears about high prices and the possibility of getting a pension in the future.
"Remigration" - the mass deportation of migrants and those with a migration background - is touted as a solution to the problems.
The Bavarian Ministry of Education has said the flyers were found at several schools in Munich and Augsburg.
There were also at least two cases reported in the neighbouring state of Baden-Württemberg.
DPA cited other media reports about the flyers also circulating at schools in northern Germany.
What is the Identitarian Movement?
The Identitarian Movement (IM) is a right-wing organisation classified by Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution as being "confirmed right-wing extremist".
It's known to hold and promote racist and Islamophobic positions and repeatedly draws attention to itself with protest actions.
The movement was founded more than twelve years ago, and can be seen as a sort of rebrand of far-right extremism in Germany.
As it was summed up in
a report in
Der Spiegel
magazine, the Identitarians made an effort "to leave the old neo-Nazi cliches behind them, wearing trainers and hipster beards instead of jackboots."
Advertisement
One major Identitarian figurehead,
Martin Sellmer
, spoke of plans for 'remigration' (or mass deportations) at a secret meeting of far-right groups in Potsdam that was exposed by
Correctiv
.
READ ALSO:
'Remigration' named Germany's ugliest word of the year
In its efforts to increase and normalise right-wing narratives in Germany, the IM has similar goals to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and the relative political success of the AfD has certainly benefitted IM organisers.
Reporting by
Der Spiegel
has also shown that the IM has quietly expanded their network in Germany in recent years, including by collecting properties in cities like Halle and Chemnitz.
Former Christian Democratic Union (CDU) member (and ex-finance senator of Berlin), Peter Kurth, was shown to have provided covert funding for these efforts.
How are schools reacting?
DPA reported that 40 to 50 of the IM flyers were found in front of the Lessing Gymnasium in Neu-Ulm.
"We wont accept that," commented deputy headmaster Marcus Zimmermann-Meigel.
Legally, political activities are banned within a close radius around schools. After being found, the leaflets were handed over to a school caretaker and the vast majority were shredded.
Advertisement
Andreas Stoch, the leader of the SPD faction in Baden-Württemberg, expressed alarm at the news.
"The case shows once again that young people in particular are the target of right-wing [groups] and extremists," Stoch said.
READ ALSO:
'Fake' social media accounts spread disinformation ahead of German election
He added that this shows why young students need to be taught to recognise and classify propaganda, advocating for a "basic course in democracy" for all students in German schools before the age of 16.
Far-right groups have also been notoriously good at building large followings on social media platforms.
The AfD, for instance, gained a large number of followers on Youtube and later
on apps like Instagram and TikTok
well before other parties made serious efforts to have a presence on those platforms.
