The Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to hold a party congress in Erfurt in July, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of a Nazi Party (NSDAP) rally in Weimar. Politicians and historians have accused the AfD of a deliberate symbolic act, a claim the AfD denies.
Controversial Timing
The AfD’s planned congress, scheduled for July 3rd and 4th, directly follows the 1926 NSDAP Reichsparteitag held in Weimar. Serap Güler, Germany’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (CDU), stated to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” that the deliberate parallel reveals the AfD’s true nature. Güler added that it is naive to believe party congresses lack symbolic weight.
Jörg Ganzenmüller, Director of the Hannah-Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Research at TU Dresden, described the timing as a “conscious symbolic act that works on several levels.” He explained that it signals solidarity with the far-right scene familiar with NSDAP history, while simultaneously maintaining a façade of respectability for broader public appeal.
Stephan Zänker, Chairman of the Weimar Republic Association, whose organization runs the “House of the Weimar Republic,” expressed concern over the historical parallel, stating it is impossible to ignore when a party facing accusations of right-wing extremism makes such a connection.
AfD Response and Further Criticism
Rolf Mützenich, a long-time SPD parliamentary group leader, stated the AfD is again using “targeted provocations to attract attention.” He emphasized that anyone choosing such a date must be aware of its historical significance and the associations it evokes.
Stefan Möller, a spokesperson for AfD-Thüringen, countered the criticism, stating that anyone drawing parallels between the AfD’s congress and the 1926 NSDAP event is engaging in a “compulsive instrumentalization of history.” The AfD’s federal executive board, responsible for organizing the party congresses, did not respond to multiple inquiries from the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the AfD planning its party congress?
The AfD plans to hold its party congress on July 3rd and 4th in Erfurt.
What historical event does the AfD’s congress date coincide with?
The AfD’s congress date coincides with the 100th anniversary of the NSDAP Reichsparteitag held in Weimar in 1926.
How has the AfD responded to the criticism regarding the timing of its congress?
The AfD has dismissed the criticism, claiming that those drawing parallels between the two events are attempting to manipulate history.
Will the controversy surrounding the date impact the AfD’s messaging or attendance at the congress remains to be seen.
