The new generation of neo-Nazis: Very young, well-networked and extremely violent

Police and public prosecutors have carried out extensive operations across Germany against young right-wing extremists. Who are the members of the groups "German Youth Forward" and "Young and Strong"?

Groups calling themselves "German Youth Forward" (Deutsche Jugend voran) and "Young and Strong" (Jung und stark) bring together young extremists from all over Germany and spread hate speech and incite violence. Security services and experts have been recording numerous violent incidents and the spread of right-wing propaganda from these circles for two years.

The most common targets of attacks are members of the LGBTQ+ community, people perceived as migrants, and young people perceived by right-wing activists as leftists. Attacks have been frequent in Berlin, but also in other cities, especially during gay pride parades.

This Wednesday, May 6, a police raid was carried out in the morning hours, coordinated by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe: around 600 police officers searched numerous apartments in 12 German states. The measures were directed against 36 suspects, but no arrests were made.

Young men ready for violence

Due to public calls for violence against political opponents, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the groups "German Youth Forward" and "Young and Strong" as possible criminal associations. According to the statement, members network via social media and at regular meetings, and some of the suspects allegedly physically attacked members of the left-wing scene. The victims were beaten by several attackers and suffered serious injuries.

German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig welcomed the security forces' actions, saying they reaffirmed the pervasive threat of violent right-wing extremism across the country. She stressed that right-wing extremism is the biggest internal threat to Germany, warning of a growing influx of young people into militant groups.

A few days before the raids, Deutsche Welle (DW) spoke with investigating authorities about young right-wing extremists and networks in Berlin, where right-wing rallies are regularly held with the participation of people associated with the aforementioned groups.

The head of the right-wing extremism department of the Berlin Criminal Bureau, Wolfgang Pemp, warns that today's far-right scene is less structured than before, but that the problem is precisely the young groups that, as he says, are quickly founded, quickly renamed, and then quickly "disappear."

Police goal: prevent extremist careers

Berlin is, in Pemp's opinion, well-organized in the fight against right-wing extremism. Specialized units enable swift action in politically motivated crimes, especially when minors are involved - with quick indictments or criminal orders, he says: "Our goal is to prevent extremist careers from developing."

The groups "German Youth Forward" and "Young and Strong" have been trying to attract young people for about two years, and their members are considered very young and extremely violent. Their ideology is based on hatred and references to the Nazism of Adolf Hitler, whose regime between 1933 and 1945 was responsible for the murder of millions of Jews, Roma, people with disabilities and political opponents across Europe. Today's young neo-Nazis often stand out with their militant style of dress, similar to classic neo-Nazis and skinheads.

Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrint thanked the police and prosecutors for their action, stressing that the state will not tolerate calls to violence or violent attacks.

Children and young people are frequent victims of racist violence

The rise in support for right-wing violence among young people has been a concern for security services for some time. Counseling centers are focusing on helping victims. In a documentary from April 2026, the Berlin victim support center "ReachOut" warns that children and young people are increasingly becoming targets of right-wing attacks.

In an interview with DW, Parto Tavangar from that Berlin center points out that victims still too often have to fight for recognition of the violence they suffered, especially in contact with the police. He adds that even in investigations it often happens that victims are wrongly registered as perpetrators and calls for greater visibility and respect for human rights to be provided to the victims of racist and extreme right-wing violence in German society.