Shocking statistics: Over 1000 right -wing extremist attacks on memorials

Shocking statistics: Over 1000 right -wing extremist attacks on memorials

New challenges for the culture of remembrance in Germany

In the middle of a worrying development, the culture of remembrance in Germany is increasingly under pressure. A new research by Deutschlandfunk throws a light on the strategies of the new right and their influence on memorials that are reminiscent of the crimes of National Socialism. The two programs in the context of "Die Kultur research" are available on August 29, 2024 on the radio and online and aim to illuminate the connections between political currents and the challenges for the culture of remembrance.

This examination is particularly important because it documents a significant increase in right -wing extremist incidents at memorials. Since 2019 there have been over 1,000 such attacks, of which less than 10 percent could be informed. These statistics, which result from a previously unpublished response from the federal government, show how profoundly the ideological struggles intervene in society. The incidents are directly related to a changed political landscape in which vocabulary such as "cult of guilt" or "monument of shame" are propagated by the new right.

An important aspect of research is the analysis of new rights and its influence on public opinion. Particularly noteworthy is the "Kanal Schnellroda" podcast, which devotes more than a third of its episodes of the Nazi era and refers to memory policy as "re-education". This shows that dealing with the past coping is all the more the focus of right -wing ideologues that try to actively influence public perception.

In addition, the mechanisms behind the new right memes and social media strategies are examined in the research. Under the pseudonym "Wilhelm Kachel", a new right of influencers, whose propaganda image material is widespread in the scene, acts. This indicates how new digital formats and communication channels are used to spread nationalistic ideas and to influence the cultural memory of society.

The comprehensive challenges that these developments bring with them require an urgent discussion about the role of the federal and state governments in securing and promoting the culture of remembrance. Civil society organizations have pointed out to endanger the processing of Nazi crimes for years, but there are often reliable data and targeted solutions. All the more important is the spread of information by the media in order to draw attention to the current developments and to sensitize the public for this important topic.

On August 29, the results of this exciting and at the same time alarming examination will be presented on Deutschlandfunk. Spectators and listeners are invited to deal with these central questions and to reflect the importance of the culture of memory for today's society.

For more information about the program and the results of the research, visit the website of Deutschlandfunk at Deutschlandfunk.de/inerungskultur.