Worry arises in northern Brandenburg. - Neo-Nazi party aims to attract youth for upcoming state elections.
Schulz, his wife, and another relative intend to represent neo-Nazis in the district council. Schulz's background indicates that he's been deeply entrenched in the far-right movement for a long time. Prior to joining the III. Weg, he was a member of the equally right-wing party, NPD.
The party has been monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for many years and is classified as right-wing extremist and anti-constitutional. It strives for "German socialism," opposes abortions as much as possible, plans to restructure cities with over 100,000 residents (e.g., Berlin or Potsdam) into "people and family-friendly" environments, reduce "employment of foreigners," and deport unemployed foreigners.
However, Schulz refuses to discuss these details, stating that he's "not got the time for that".
In 2004, Schulz departed from the NPD due to their endorsement of a Bosniak for the European Parliament. "In my eyes, the NPD abandoned the principle of descent and embraced the opposing camp's stance." In essence, the extreme-right party, which was solid in some areas, was not extreme enough for him.
Similarly, Schulz views the AfD as "incompetent" and a "mixture of fortune seekers, egomaniacs, and self-promoters."
While III. Weg is yet unfamiliar to many people in Prignitz or Wittstock/Dosse, it may soon gain notoriety during the election season. Schulz boasts of gathering donations totaling €20,000. The majority of these funds, according to him, are contributed by fellow farmers. He's planning to display 3,500 posters and deliver 37,000 flyers.
Dissatisfaction pervades the villages in northwest Brandenburg, creating an optimal setting for far-right parties. "Here, as a German, you already feel neglected," remarked a retired resident from Pritzwalk. A woman from Wittstock believes, "The situation here has deteriorated for three years. There are increasing numbers of crimes committed by migrants."
Uckermark district. The small town of Angermünde (population 14,000) has emitted warnings since spotting the Roman three with oak leaves on a green background - the logo of III. Weg. The town is considered a central hub for neo-Nazis.
This is due to the state party chairman, main candidate for the state elections on 22 September, and trained painter, Matthias Fischer, living on a farm at the resort's edge. Fischer was sentenced to three months in prison for inciting hatred in 2009, fined €2,700 for inciting hatred by Wunsiedel district court in 2015, and acquitted on appeal by the Hof regional court in 2018.
Furthermore, Fischer's name was found on the phone list of NSU serial killer Uwe Mundlos.
Fischer regularly assembles his members from Berlin and Brandenburg. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution states that 70 individuals belong to the Brandenburg III. Weg and its youth organization "National Revolutionary Youth." "On peak days, there are up to 15 people here," says Wolfgang Rall (62).
The high school teacher has been combating the neo-Nazis for years, collaborating with other Angermünde residents to remove the party's stickers from street lamps with nail polish remover. "Fischer snapped a photo of me and posted it on the III. Weg website with my name. I can't do anything about that - I'm considered a public figure," he says. An effort to intimidate. Successful for many, but not for Rall.
Almost every Saturday morning, III. Weg assembles a campaign stand in Angermünde's town center. According to Rall, the members frequently use slogans such as "animal feed instead of firecrackers" and present themselves as "social workers." Their most potent weapon: their persistence.
"They primarily target very young people," reveals a local. The party's youth organization has announced it will soon be visiting "all schools in Brandenburg" during the election campaign. The neo-Nazis hope to sway first-time voters. In the state elections in Brandenburg, voters can cast their ballots from the age of 16.
Residents remain hopeful, wanting to maintain the area's peaceful atmosphere. "It's quite pleasant here, and we'd like to keep it that way. However, we're rapidly returning to the 90s, the baseball bat era," concludes the resident.
Could the neo-Nazis prevail in Brandenburg?
Only a short distance from the III. Weg, the AfD has its headquarters. Based on polls, the party could potentially secure 25% of the votes in upcoming state elections. The III. Weg perceives the AfD as not extremist enough but recognizes the growing influence is playing into the hands of neo-Nazis. Since the AfD aims to normalize right-wing extremism, III. Weg serves as an assembly point for hardliners, say experts.
The current constitution protection report mentions, "The Brandenburg 'Third Way' has gained strength inside the party overall, largely due to the activities of federal and state chairman Matthias Fischer [...]."
Beyond Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Prignitz, and Uckermark, neo-Nazis are also vying for roles in the Oberhavel region. The statement continues, "At the local level, 'Third Way' is capable of attracting voters from the extreme right-wing faction."
Religious teacher Rall still holds out hope that neo-Nazis won't infiltrate the district or state parliaments. "However, it's crucial we confront them," he says. "Ignoring them won't stop their progress."
* Editor's note: In an initial draft of the article, we failed to include details about the acquittals of some individuals, which Mr. Fischer later informed us about after publication.
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Source: symclub.org
