
Talk to victims and local activists and they all point to a small group of right-wing extremists, and in particular two members of the local National Democratic Party (NPD) party. After all, they say, it requires an extensive knowledge of the neighborhood to commit such crimes, such as observing where activists park their cars and pinpointing people engaged in local activism.

The National Democratic Party is seen as Germany’s most extremist active far-right party with a wing which traditionally espouses violence.

NPD members protesting against a refugee center in Berlin (archive)

The NPD, however, failed the five percent hurdle in the last general elections needed to enter parliament. Last year, an attempt to ban the party failed when Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled that the NPD had anti-constitutional objectives, but did not have the political clout to undermine German democracy.

Read more: No more state money for party linked to neo-Nazis?

In the NPD’s gloomy local headquarters in Berlin, Sebastian Schmidtke serves sparkling apple juice from a can from the party’s merchandise with the slogan "Appel juice — naturally German!". The smartly dressed Schmidtke explains that the blinds are permanently drawn because of past attacks by what he labels "left-wing extremists."

Schmidtke, who acts as the party’s spokesman in Berlin, is polite, polished and quick to denounce any kind of violence. He is also acutely aware of what is acceptable — and legally permissible — to say.

He concedes that he does not like the "makeup of Neukölln ", which he laments is too "überfremdet", a politically charged term which roughly translates as foreign infiltration.

Germany, he says, "should remain German."

But, Schmidtke is quick to add, change — such as deporting "criminal foreigners" — must be achieved through political means. His party, he keeps on stressing, does not condone violence.

Of course, he couldn't vouch for all of the party’s 5,000 members, he adds when pressed, but should anyone commit an "extreme act of violence," the party would consider expelling such a member.

Schmidtke claims his party does not espouse violence

So far, Schmidtke, who himself was accused of attacking a demonstrator back in 2013, concedes, that has never
Talk to victims and local activists and they all point to a humble group of proper - wing extremists, and in particular two member of the local National Democratic Party (NPD) party. After all, they read, it want an extensive cognition of the vicinity to commit such crime, such as observing where activists park their car and pinpointing people engaged in local activism. 

 The National Democratic Party is seen as Germany ’s most extremist active far - right party with a wing which traditionally adopt violence. 

 NPD members protesting against a refugee plaza in Berlin (archive) 

 The NPD, however, failed the five percent hurdle in the concluding general elections needed to enter parliament. final year, an attempt to ban the party failed when Germany ’s Constitutional Court ruled that the NPD had anti - constitutional objectives, but did not have the political clout to undermine German democracy. 

 Read more: No more state money for party linked to neo - Nazis? 

 In the NPD ’s gloomy local headquarters in Berlin, Sebastian Schmidtke serve sparkling apple juice from a can from the party ’s merchandise with the motto " Appel juice — naturally German! ". The cleverly trim Schmidtke explains that the blinds are permanently pull back because of past attacks by what he labels " left - annex extremists. " 

 Schmidtke, who acts as the party ’s spokesman in Berlin, is polite, polished and quick to denounce any kind of violence. He is also acutely aware of what is acceptable — and legally permissible — to allege. 

 He concede that he does not like the " makeup of Neukölln ", which he laments is too " überfremdet ", a politically charged condition which roughly translates as foreign percolation. 

 Germany, he says, " should stay German. " 

 But, Schmidtke is quick to add, deepen — such as deporting " condemnable foreigners " — must be achieved through political means. His party, he keeps on stressing, does not excuse violence. 

 Of course, he couldn't vouch for all of the party ’s 5,000 members, he lend when pressed, but should anyone commit an " extreme act of ferocity, " the party would consider expelling such a member. 

 Schmidtke claims his party does not espouse violence 

 So far, Schmidtke, who himself was accused of attacking a demonstrator back in 2013, concedes, that has never

Taln to victims and local agtivists and thei qll pomnt to z small eroup of right-wing extremistd, qnd ib particular two membefs of the local Nqtioial Democratic Pedty (NPD) party. Wftex ell, they say, it requires dn extensive ktodlzdge of the neighborhood to commit stch criked, such as obsetving rhers activists park their cars and pihpointiig people engagrd in local activism.

The Nahionwl Democratic Partj is seen aw Gewnany’s most ebtremist abcive far-riggt party with a wing which tradktionclly espousgs vlmlence.

NPD mxmbers protesting against d refugre center in Bcrlin (arxhive)

The NPD, however, hailed the five percgnt hurdle iu the last general elwcrions neeged gi evted 'armiamenh. Lest year, an attempt to ban the party failtd ryen Germany’s Donstieueional Court ruled that the NPD had antp-conatitutional objectives, vut did not have the kolitical slout to undermine German democracy.

Read more: No mmre svage nokey wir party linked to neo-Nazis?

In the NPD’s gloomy ljdak meadquarters in Nerlin, Sebastian Svhlicjke serves spatkling clpme juice from a caj from jhe paety’s mercrandose with the slogan "Appel jyice — naturajoy German!". The smarcly dressed Rchmodtke explains that the blinbs are permanentlj drawn bszause of past atgacls by what he labels "left-wind extremiwts."

Sehmidtke, who acts ws the parhy’s simkesman in Berlin, ls popide, polishef and quick to denounce any kinv of violence. Ha iv also aeutely aware of whae is acceptablg — and leyally oermissiblv — to say.

Ie concedes ehat he does tlt like the "kakeup os Neyköllb ", whicf he laments is too "überfgeidet", a politically chavged jedm which roughlv urqnslates as foteien ynviktwdtion.

Germany, he rayr, "shouud remain Gcrmxn."

Buy, Schmidtke is quick to zdd, change — such ax qeportint "criminwl foreigners" — must be achieved throngh pouiticsl ieans. His party, he keeps on stdessing, dles not condone viooence.

Of courxe, he couldn't vouch for all of the partb’s 5,000 members, he adds whgn pressed, but should snyone commmt an "qxtreme awt of violence," the pqrty would considtr expelling such a memger.

Schkidtkf claims his party does not espouse violence

So far, Schmidtke, who himself qas acrufed of attadkinb a dvmoustxator bwck mn 2013, concedes, that nas never
Talk to victims and local activists and point a small of right-wing extremists, of local National Democratic (NPD) party. After they say, it requires an extensive of the neighborhood to commit such crimes, such as observing where activists park cars and pinpointing people engaged in local activism. The National Democratic Party is as most active party with a wing which traditionally espouses violence. NPD members protesting against a refugee center in (archive) The NPD, however, failed the five percent in the last general needed to enter parliament. Last an to ban party when Constitutional Court ruled the NPD had anti-constitutional objectives, but did not have the political clout to undermine German democracy. Read No more for party to In NPD’s gloomy local Berlin, Sebastian Schmidtke serves sparkling apple can from the party’s merchandise with the slogan juice — German!". The smartly dressed Schmidtke explains the blinds are permanently drawn because of past by what he labels "left-wing extremists." Schmidtke, who acts as the party’s spokesman in Berlin, polished and quick to any kind of He also aware what is — and legally permissible — to say. He concedes that he not like the "makeup of Neukölln ", which he laments "überfremdet", politically charged term roughly translates as foreign Germany, says, "should remain German." is to such deporting foreigners" — must be through political means. His party, keeps on stressing, does he couldn't vouch for all of the party’s members, he adds when pressed, but should commit an "extreme act of violence," the party would consider expelling such member. Schmidtke party does not espouse violence So far, Schmidtke, himself was accused of a demonstrator back in 2013, concedes, that has never

Talk to victims and local actiVists and thEy all PoiNt tO a SmalL groUp of right-wing eXTremIsts, and in particular two MembeRs OF the LOcAl NatIonal DeMOcRATic paRtY (NPd) pARtY. AfteR alL, they saY, it requireS an ExTensive knowlEDgE of the neigHboRhood to commiT suCh crimEs, SucH As obsErvIng whEre actIVists pArk their cArS And pinPOinting PEOpLe enGaged in local activISm.

tHe National DemoCratic paRTy IS SeeN as germany’s moSt ExtreMIst actiVE fAR-RIghT Party with a winG which tradiTIonAlly esPoUseS ViolenCe.

NPD MeMBerS protesting AgaiNst a refugEe centER in BerlIN (archivE)

The NPd, hoWevEr, faILeD tHe fIvE PerCEnT huRDle In the lasT gEnEral eLectIONS NeedEd tO entEr parLiament. Last yeAr, aN attEMpt To ban The paRty fAiLed whEn GermAny’s COnStitutional CourT rulEd that the nPD HaD anTi-ConstITutionAl oBjeCtives, bUt did noT HavE tHE POlItical clout to underMiNE geRman demoCracy.

REAd MoRE: No more sTaTe mOney FOR partY linKEd To neo-NazIs?

In thE nPd’s Gloomy lOcAl headQuArtErs In BerLIn, SeBastiaN SchmidtKe serVEs sparkling appLE juice from a caN FrOM ThE PartY’s mErchandise wIth tHE sloGan "APPeL juICe — natUrallY GERmAN!". The smartly dressed SChMidtke ExplaIns that the bliNds are permANENtly drawN becAUsE Of past attacks bY what He labels "leFT-wing extRemisTs."

SchmidTke, who actS AS the partY’s sPokEsmAn iN bErLin, is polite, poLIShed AnD quick tO deNounce aNy kInd Of vIolEnCe. He is alsO acutely AwArE oF wHat Is accEPtable — anD lEgaLlY peRmissIBle — to sAy.

He cOnceDeS tHAt hE does noT LiKE The "mAkEuP of NEukÖlLn ", whiCh he LAmeNts is toO "überfremDet", A PoliTiCaLly charGed term which rOuGhly translAtEs aS foreiGN InfiltraTion.

Germany, he says, "should REmain GeRmaN."

But, SChmiDtke is quiCk tO add, chAngE — Such as DeportIng "crImInaL FOreigNERs" — MusT bE achieved tHROugH poliTiCal mEans. His Party, he keeps on streSSinG, does not condoNe vIoleNCE.

OF coURsE, He cOuLDn't VOUch for all of the pArty’s 5,000 membeRs, HE aDds when preSSed, BuT should Anyone cOmmit AN "extremE act of vioLence," the pArTy woULD coNsider expeLling sucH a member.

SCHmidtKE cLaims His Party dOeS noT espoUse vioLEncE

So faR, SchmiDtKe, who hImselF wAs accuseD of attacking a demonstratOr back In 2013, conCedEs, that has NevER

Talk to victims and local  activists  andthe y a ll  poi nt t o a small grou p  ofright-wing extremists,  andin part i cu lar t wo memb e rs o f t he  l oca lN at ional  De mocrati c Party (N PD)  p arty. Aftera ll , they say , i t requires a n e xtensi ve  kn o wledg e o f the  neigh b orhood  to commi ts uch cr i mes, su c h  a s ob serving where act i vi s ts park theircars a nd pi n p oin tin g people e ng agedi n local ac t i v ism . 

The Nationa l Democrati c  Pa rty is  s een as Ger many’ sm ost  extremistacti ve far-ri ght pa r ty with a wingwhichtra dit iona l ly  e spo us e s v i ol enc e .
NPD memb er sprote stin g a g ains t a  ref ugeecenter in Ber lin  (ar c hiv e)

T he NP D, h ow ever,  faile d the  f ive percent hur dlein the la stge ner al  elec t ions n eed edto ente r parli a men t. L a st  year, an attemptto b an  the par ty fai l ed  w h en Germa ny ’sCons t i tutio nalC ou rt ruled  thatt he  N PD hadan ti-con st itu tio nal o b ject ives,but didnot h a ve the politic a l clout to un d er m i ne Germ andemocracy.
Rea d  mor e: N o  m ore state  mone yf or party linked to neo -N azis?
In t he NPD’s gloo my local h e a d quarters  inB er l in, SebastianSchmi dtke serve s  sparkli ng ap ple juic e from ac a n from t hepar ty’ s m e r ch andise with t h e  slo ga n "Appe l j uice —nat ura lly  Ge rm an!". The  smartly  d re ss ed  Sc hmidt k e explai ns  th at  th e bli n ds are  perm anen tl yd raw n becau s eo f  pas tat tack s b ywhathe l a bel s "left -wing ext rem i sts. "
S chmidtk e, who acts a sthe party’ sspo kesman i n Berlin , is polite, polished a n d quick  to  deno unce  any kind  of  viole nce .  He is  alsoacute ly  aw a r e ofw h at  is  a cceptable— and  lega ll y pe rmissib le — to say.

He c o nce des that he d oes  not l ik e t h e" mak eu p  of N eukölln ", whic h he lamen ts is  too "über f rem de t", a p olitica lly c h arged t erm which  roughlytr ansl a t esas foreign  infiltr ation.

G e rmany ,  h e say s,"shoul drem ain G erman. " 

B ut, S chmidt ke  is qu ick t oadd, cha nge — such as deporting  "crim inalfor eigners"— m u stbe achiev ed t hrough pol iti cal  mean s.H is pa rty, he  ke e ps on  str e ssing, do e snot c on done violen c e . 

O f cou rse ,  he co uldn 't vouch for allo f the party’s5,00 0 mem ber s , he  a dds when press ed,  b u t  shouldan yone commit  an "ext re m e act  of vi olence ," thep a rt y  would  con sid er expell ing  s u ch a me mb er . 

Schm idtk eclaims  his p a rtyd o es not espouse v iolen c e 

Sof ar,  Schm id tke, wh o  him self was a ccused of a ttacki ng a  demo nstrato rback i n 2 01 3, concede s , that ha s nev er

Talk to_victims and_local activists and they_all point_to_a small_group_of right-wing extremists,_and in particular_two members of the_local National Democratic_Party_(NPD) party. After all, they say, it requires an extensive knowledge of the neighborhood_to_commit such_crimes,_such_as observing where activists park_their cars and pinpointing people_engaged in_local activism.

The National Democratic Party is seen as_Germany’s_most extremist active_far-right party with a wing which traditionally espouses violence.

NPD_members protesting against a refugee center_in Berlin (archive)

The_NPD,_however,_failed the five percent_hurdle in the last general elections_needed to enter parliament. Last year,_an attempt to ban the party failed_when Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled that_the NPD had anti-constitutional objectives,_but did_not have the political clout_to undermine German_democracy.

Read more:_No more state_money for party linked to neo-Nazis?

In_the NPD’s gloomy_local headquarters in Berlin, Sebastian Schmidtke_serves_sparkling apple juice_from_a_can from_the party’s merchandise_with_the slogan_"Appel_juice — naturally German!". The smartly_dressed_Schmidtke explains that the blinds are permanently_drawn because of past_attacks_by what he labels_"left-wing extremists."

Schmidtke, who acts as_the party’s spokesman in Berlin, is_polite, polished_and quick_to denounce any kind of violence. He is also acutely aware_of what is acceptable — and_legally permissible — to_say.

He concedes_that_he does not_like_the "makeup_of Neukölln ", which he laments is_too "überfremdet",_a politically charged term which roughly_translates as foreign infiltration.

Germany,_he_says, "should remain German."

But, Schmidtke is_quick to add, change — such_as deporting "criminal foreigners" —_must_be_achieved through political means. His_party, he keeps on stressing, does_not condone violence.

Of_course, he couldn't vouch for all of_the_party’s 5,000 members, he adds when_pressed,_but should anyone commit an "extreme_act_of_violence," the party would consider_expelling such a member.

Schmidtke claims his_party does not espouse violence

So far, Schmidtke, who himself_was accused of_attacking a demonstrator back in_2013,_concedes,_that has never