STORIES

VATERLAND

Germany

Vaterland documents right-wing extremism in Germany as the far right gains electoral strength and an increasingly assertive public presence. Extremist movements are attracting supporters, while demands once associated with the political margins reach a wider audience. Their influence is already changing the country’s political direction.

The title means “fatherland,” a word repeatedly encountered during the work. In the language of these movements, attachment to Germany becomes a claim over the country itself. Promises to restore the nation rest on an understanding of German identity that excludes people on the basis of their origin. Those promoting these ideas often describe themselves as patriots defending a country they believe has been taken from them.

The relationship between such convictions and the pursuit of political power is central to Vaterland. The organizations involved differ, but their arguments often draw on the same resentment towards immigration and established politics. The project examines how extremist beliefs gain acceptance when presented as answers to wider dissatisfaction. Young supporters are part of this development, giving longstanding nationalist ideas a renewed following.

Germany’s postwar democracy was built in response to National Socialism. Remembering that history remains a public responsibility, yet it has not prevented authoritarian and racist beliefs from finding support again. Vaterland examines this failure to recognize familiar dangers in their contemporary forms. The far right has moved beyond making its presence known. Its ambitions now carry political weight, with consequences for the kind of country Germany becomes.

“Tobias” (name changed), 24, a member of Der III. Weg, poses in a field near Bad Doberan, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, making a hand sign associated with “White Power” in far-right circles. Der III. Weg is classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence service as a right-wing extremist party with strong ties to the neo-Nazi scene. “These globalists, leftists, and foreigners are destroying my once-great country. I couldn’t just sit and watch it being doomed,” he said. “That’s why I decided to fight, and I’m doing my best to help others join our cause. Enough is enough.”

“Christian” (name changed), 21, a member of the Junge Nationalisten (JN), poses for a portrait. The JN is the youth organization of the far-right party Die Heimat, formerly known as the NPD, and is classified within Germany’s right-wing extremist spectrum. “We’re not extremists, we’re realists,” Christian said. “Multiculturalism has failed. Crime is rising, and Germans are becoming strangers in their own cities.” He described joining the JN as a way to reclaim national pride and prepare for what he calls a cultural fight. “If talking doesn’t work, we’re ready to take serious action. Me and my comrades won’t just stand by while our country is dismantled.”

Lois Wagner, a member of the Junge Nationalisten (JN), speaks at a rally in Wetzlar, Germany. The JN is the youth organization of Die Heimat, formerly known as the Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD), and is classified within Germany’s right-wing extremist spectrum. Wagner describes himself in racial terms, saying that his facial features demonstrate his “Aryan” ancestry and referring to himself as belonging to the “Nordic race.” “Germany should be for Germans,” he said. “That’s our right, to preserve who we are. If we don’t stand up now, we’ll lose everything our ancestors built.”

“Marcel” (name changed), 24, a member of the Junge Nationalisten (JN), poses in a residential backyard in Göttingen, Germany. “We don’t call ourselves Nazis. We are patriots. We protect our land. They want to destroy everything we stand for,” he said. “We’re not the extremists, they are,” he added, referring to left-wing and queer activists. “Every time we speak out, they call it hate. But we’re just defending our way of life.” When asked about democracy, he responded: “The system doesn’t work anymore. People like us get silenced. It’s time for a new order.” The JN has experienced significant membership growth in recent years, alongside the emergence of new right-wing extremist youth groups in Germany.

“Lukas” (name changed), 22, a member of the Junge Nationalisten (JN), the youth organization of the far-right party Die Heimat, formerly known as the NPD, poses anonymously. “I just want Germany to be for Germans again,” he said. “They call that hate now, but to me, it’s just common sense.” He said he does not consider himself a neo-Nazi, but identifies with what he calls “a traditional, proud, white German identity.” Lukas said the media misrepresents the group’s goals. “We’re not monsters. We’re patriots. But that word doesn’t mean anything anymore, does it?” he added.