Alarming trend: Young neo-Nazis are endangering our society!

Alarming trend: Young neo-Nazis are endangering our society!

On May 24, 2025, the President of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, urgently warned against the rise of criminal right-wing radical youth groups in Germany. The increase in radicalization of 14- to 18-year-old members in well-organized structures is particularly worrying. Münch emphasizes that these groups commit “serious crimes” and that the high number and quality of right-wing crimes represent a major challenge for the security authorities.

More and more young people are using the Internet as a networking space to radicalize, recruit and mobilize each other. This digital communication, which is particularly important in the everyday lives of young people, is used specifically by extremist actors. The Federal Agency for Civic Education reports that extremists use the Internet to spread propaganda and mobilize new followers, which further increases the challenges for security authorities.

Radical groups in focus

On Wednesday, a suspected right-wing extremist terrorist cell called the “Last Defense Wave” was dismantled. Five young people between the ages of 14 and 18 were taken into custody when arrests were made in raids in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Hesse. The group had planned to carry out attacks on refugees and political dissidents and has already carried out arson attacks.

The federal and state security authorities are under great pressure to monitor and control relevant groups. Münch said that combating acts of violence by right-wing extremists was a task for society as a whole. This once again illustrates the current situation, which must be taken seriously not only on paper, but also in reality.

Internet as a medium for radicalization

The Internet plays a central role in the radicalization process, especially among young people. Various platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram are used by extremists to spread radical ideologies. Propaganda is increasingly being adapted to specifically create social tensions and attract new members. Various media formats, such as videos, images and music, are used, which are specifically aimed at creating an emotional appeal and encouraging young users to actively participate.

But as the analysis shows, radicalization is an individual process that does not only take place online. Scientists disagree about the influence of the Internet: while some see it as a catalyst that is not solely responsible for radicalization, the importance of the analogue world is also pointed out. The interaction of online and offline worlds is crucial for the radicalization of young people.

The observations of the BKA and political education highlight the urgency of dealing with the problem of extremist radicalization. At a time when right-wing extremist ideologies are being spread through targeted propaganda and modern means of communication, it remains a challenge for society as a whole to counteract this and promote an inclusive, democratic environment.

For more information on this topic, see reports from OE24, bpb and Youth and media.