RT: The rise of neo-Nazism across Europe has been progressing steadily, with Germany in particular seeing more and more young people being drawn to extreme-right groups. RT’s Egor Piskunov has been examining what is driving this dangerous trend.
With a population of only 6,000, Zossen is a typical small German town, remote from large industries and financial centers. Life here is calm and peaceful – or at least it used to be, before 2009.
It all started with Nazi symbols appearing around the town. Then a local social center was torched. A young man who openly identifies himself as a neo-Nazi, and who admitted encouraging a teenager to set the center on fire, is now being prosecuted and faces up to two years behind bars.
Jörg Wanke, who has spearheaded a campaign against neo-Nazis in his home town, has seen his own office vandalized. He says the final straw came when neo-Nazis marched through Zossen’s main square.
“I used to be afraid, but it helps not to act alone, to have supporters. I became a public person with our initiative and it’s sort of my protection,” says Wanke.
Another activist, Peter Schmidt, says the town is divided on how to respond to the neo-Nazi threat. “Some say we’re exaggerating and are only making things worse by attracting too much attention. But I think they are simply afraid,” he says.