Far-right youth groups using names like “Deutsche Jugend Voran” (German Youth Lead the Way) and “Jung und Stark” (Young and Strong) have been spreading propaganda and carrying out violent attacks across Germany, security agencies say. Over the past two years authorities and experts have tracked a rise in intimidation and assaults originating from these circles.
Perpetrators, predominantly young men, have targeted LGBTQ+ people, migrants or those perceived as such, and youths suspected of left-wing politics. Attacks have occurred repeatedly in Berlin and other cities, frequently occurring around Christopher Street Day and Pride events.
On the morning of May 6 federal prosecutors and police conducted nationwide raids against organized far-right networks. About 600 officers searched apartments in twelve states, focusing on 36 suspects. Officials said no arrests were announced at the time. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating groups including “Deutsche Jugend Voran” and “Jung und Stark” as suspected criminal organizations because they openly promote violence against political opponents.
Authorities say members coordinated via social media and held regular meetings. Prosecutors allege that some of the accused took part in attacks on people from the left-wing scene, with victims beaten by multiple assailants and suffering serious injuries.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig welcomed the operation, describing it as evidence of a nationwide threat from violent right-wing extremism. The center-left Social Democratic Party warned that militant right-wing groups are gaining support, particularly among young people.
In Berlin, where right-wing marches and demonstrations have recurred, police and specialists say the current scene poses new challenges because it is less structured than in the past. Wolfram Pemp, head of the Right-Wing Extremism Division at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office, noted that youth groups are often formed, renamed and dissolved quickly, complicating policing and prosecutions.
Germany has strengthened its response by creating specialized units to act quickly on politically motivated crimes, especially those involving juveniles. Searches and arrests are increasingly followed by rapid indictments or summary judgments as part of a broader effort “to prevent a career in extremism,” Pemp said.
For roughly two years these groups have sought to recruit young people. Their ideology draws on National Socialism under Adolf Hitler, and members frequently wear clothing and brands associated with neo‑Nazi and skinhead subcultures. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said authorities will not tolerate calls for violence and are taking decisive action.
A recent April 2026 report from the Berlin victim counseling service ReachOut highlights that children and adolescents are increasingly victims of right-wing attacks, prompting the establishment of counseling centers. Parto Tavangar of ReachOut told DW that victims often encounter obstacles when dealing with police and in some cases are recorded as perpetrators in investigation files. Tavangar urged that victims of racist and far-right violence be given a stronger voice and that their human rights be recognized.
This article was translated from German.