Nazis in the crosshairs of the Federal Criminal Police: are the German farmers’ protests being infiltrated by right-wing extremists?

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The German farmers are angry! And when farmers let off steam, things can sometimes get difficult, as the most recent protests in December 2023 showed. From January 8, thousands of tractors will once again roll out on highways and city centers in a rally as farmers across the country look to express their anger. There are fears about their manure pile actions and days-long blockades. Federal German security authorities are now warning of political riots. Because right-wing extremists are increasingly infiltrating the farmers’ protests.

From Monday, convoys of tractors will block highway entrances and main arteries. The German Farmers’ Association has announced more than 100 demonstrations and meetings in all states. Forwarders, winemakers and food producers such as bakers and butchers also want to participate in the demonstration. The main reason for the protests: the traffic light government wants to abolish tax benefits for agricultural diesel from 2026 to close gaps in the budget.

Politicians from almost all parties fear that the farmers’ anger could now be abused by the right for their own purposes. “People from the far right have fantasies about subversion and could use the protests to their own advantage,” Green Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (58) warned ZDF on Friday. The farmers’ protests would be slightly more robust, but should not result in radicalism, says CSU Prime Minister Markus Söder (57). CDU leader Friedrich Merz (68) calls on farmers to protest peacefully and not allow themselves to be exploited.

Reich citizens also on the radar of the federal authorities

In addition to traffic chaos and dense air, state governments and law enforcement officials also fear acts of violence, intimidation attacks on politicians, right-wing nationalist agitation and incitement to riots.

For example, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) suspects infiltration by right-wing national parties such as the “III. Away” or the new right-wing network “One Percent”, reports “Welt am Sonntag”. Party members of the right-wing extremist Thuringian AFD state chairman Björn Höcke (51) have signed up for public speeches for the week of action. Attempts would be made to foment ‘riots’ and ‘peasant uprisings’ and call for ‘infiltration’ of the farmers’ protests. Also on the radar of the federal authorities are the Reichsbürger, the “Heimat” party (formerly NPD), identity groups and other conspiracy theorists. The AfD, meanwhile, called for a “general strike”.

Protesters threatened green politicians

Robert Habeck (54) experienced on his way home from holiday how dangerously charged demonstrations can be. About 300 protesters blocked a pier in Schleswig-Holstein last Thursday evening and prevented the Green Federal Minister of Economy and Climate from leaving the ferry. According to media reports, Reich citizens were involved in the riots. In the afternoon, the right-wing extremist Telegram group ‘Freies Humus’ called for a demonstration on the pier.

The Minister of Agriculture of Lower Saxony, Miriam Staudte (48), was also shocked. In mid-December, about thirty angry farmers drove their tractors to the Green politician’s private home and started a honking concert. Staudte was not there, but her two minor children were. “I will file a complaint for violation. State security is involved. I absolutely do not want to let this go,” the minister told NDR.

Gallows for the traffic light coalition and Nazi flags

Threatening symbols also accompanied the farmers’ protests in Berlin, Stuttgart and Saarland in December. Gallows were mounted on trucks and traffic lights were hung on them. Some tractors hung flags with a plow and a red sword, an emblem of the former ‘National People’s Movement’, a farmers’ group from the 1920s that had close ties to Hitler’s NSDAP party. A call for protest from the association ‘Land creates connection’ also seems inflammatory. The internet video states: “A chess game begins with the pawn and ends only when the king falls.”

The German Farmers’ Union, which called for the mass protests, distances itself from the Nazi messages and the tumult of the past days and weeks. In the newspaper ‘Bild am Sonntag’, association leader Joachim Rukwied (59) states that right-wing extremist groups with a desire for subversion are undesirable. But he cannot guarantee that the demonstrations next week will be peaceful.

Source: Blick