"Young and strong": Berlin's blocks are a bastion of neo-Nazis

Anne (30) is not afraid, but she is cautious. She actively fights against right-wing and racist violence in Berlin – which is why she herself is a target of extremists. For her safety, she uses a pseudonym.

She has been observing the far-right scene in Berlin's Marzan-Helersdorf district for years. There are street attacks, propaganda and everyday racism. "There are neo-Nazis here who want to show dominance on the streets - with stickers and graffiti they say: 'This is our neighborhood,'" Anne tells DW.

There are young people like her all over Berlin who document right-wing and racist incidents to make the scale of the danger visible and give victims a voice. "People are attacked because they have pink hair or a jacket whose brand is considered 'left-wing'. We have also recorded several robberies with a neo-Nazi background," says Ane.

Contrasts on the edge of the city

Marcan-Helersdorf is a kind of city within a city. It is the largest European settlement of prefabricated buildings – blocks, which in Germany are often seen as “concrete dormitories” and a relic of communism.

Marcan is a social hotspot where one in four children is poor. At the same time, it is a green area, attractive to families, with Germany's largest settlement of single-family and multi-family houses.

Despite its connections to the city center – just a 20-minute subway ride to Alexanderplatz – many residents rarely leave the area.

"There are young people who never leave the neighborhood. It's a reality where their whole life fits into one place," says Ane.

For years, young neo-Nazis have been trying to strengthen their strongholds in Berlin, especially in Marzan-Hellersdorf. Among the most prominent are the groups "German Youth Forward" and "Young and Strong", which were targeted in raids across Germany last Wednesday (May 6).

Hate towards queer people, migrants and political opponents is being spread on social media, but also on the streets – for example during the attack on the Christopher Street Day parade. Police said at the time that two of the perpetrators were under the age of 14.

Violence is often hidden behind seemingly peaceful and orderly streets. During a press tour, a passerby shouted "Heil Hitler" to a reporter, while a few hundred meters away, a sticker on a lamppost read "Germany to the Germans."

Ane regularly receives calls from victims: "People were hiding and running away from groups of about a dozen young men. The young men were being brutally beaten."

As he says, the feeling of insecurity is growing, and many people think twice about how they will dress or behave if they are young and openly anti-fascist.

Queer people and migrants are particularly targeted.

The deputy mayor of this Berlin district, Gordon Lem, who grew up here, has also noticed the increase in violence. Speaking to DW, he warns that queer people are increasingly being targeted. "We don't have queer cafes or enough safe spaces. Young people are less and less daring to openly show who they are."

Lem also speaks of a shift in values ​​among young people: traditional gender roles are being reasserted, fueled by general social insecurity. "People are withdrawing into themselves, wanting to be inconspicuous. Clothing style and appearance often serve as protective armor."

Farzaneh (30), whose family comes from Afghanistan and she was born in Iran, experiences similar everyday harshness. She has lived in Hellersdorf for a long time. She reported everyday racism to the Berlin Register: insults, stares in shops and on public transport.

“That's how racism starts,” she says. Still, she doesn't give up. “I'm not weak because I'm a woman. I can protect myself.” Despite everything, she still loves Berlin and is happy to live in Germany.

Resistance from the neighborhood

Resistance to hate also comes from the local community. Barbara Jungnikel, an educator for an evangelical church community, opens a converted construction container once a week – the “Café on Wheels”. Since 2013, when right-wing groups protested against the accommodation of refugees, she has been trying to restore trust in coexistence through conversation. Over coffee and biscuits.

These are small steps, but they send a powerful message. Ane, Farzaneh, Barbara Jungnikel and Gordon Lem do not want to leave Berlin to a vocal minority that spreads hatred. Their commitment shows that even in the shadow of growing extremism, a worrying trend in Germany can – and must – be resisted.