Leading German far-right politician in Hitler pilgrimage

The far right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has been plunged into renewed controversy after it emerged one of its members posed for photographs on a “pilgrimage” of sites associated with Adolf Hitler.

The politician in question, who has not been named under German privacy laws, posed with a candle outside Hitler’s birthplace in the Austrian town of Braunau am Inn. He also posed with a picture of the Fuhrer close to his mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden in the Alps, and with a banner bearing a swastika and SS runes.

Details of the pictures, which were taken on a tour of Nazi sites the politician made with colleagues in 2015, emerged this week.

The AfD admitted the existence of the photographs and said the politician concerned had resigned from the party.

Although he has not been publicly named, he is understood to be a senior figure in the party’s regional association in Thuringia, and an associate of Björn Höcke, one of the most controversial figures in the AfD.

There were calls for Höcke to be expelled from the party last year after he called for a “180-degree turn” in German attitudes to World War II. The politician involved in the latest controversy is understood to have served on the panel that found in Höcke’s favour.

The AfD has known about the existence of the photographs since September and took immediate action, the party said in a statement.

related

Subscribe to the EJC newsletter

Get the EJC newsletter, including the latest statements and news from the European Jewish communities, direct to your inbox.

European Jewish Congress will use the information you provide on this form to contact you. We will treat your information with respect and will not share it with others. By clicking Subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

browse by community