With names like "Deutsche Jugend Voran" (German Youth Lead the Way ) or "Jung und Stark" (Young and Strong): far-right extremists are banding together across Germany to spread hatred and violence. For the past two years, security agencies and experts have been monitoring mounting acts of violence and far-right propaganda from within these circles.

The young perpetrators primarily target the LGBTQ+ community, individuals they think are immigrants, or young people they suspect to be leftists. Attacks have repeatedly happened in Berlin and other cities — especially during Christopher Street Day and Pride parades.

With the nationwide raids on the morning of May 6, Germany's top prosecutors cracked down on organized far-right networks: 600 police officers searched a number of apartments across twelve German states, targeting 36 suspects. No arrests have been made.

Young, male and prone to violence

According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, because groups such as "Deutsche Jugend Voran" and "Jung und Stark" voice support for violence against political opponents and, as a result, it is investigating them as suspected criminal organizations.

In the wake of the raids, the Federal Prosecutor General said members of the groups networked via social media and held regular meetings. They did not stop at calls for violence, according to a press release: "Some of the accused are alleged to have attacked members of the left-wing scene," the Federal Prosecutor's Office said. "The victims were each beaten by several attackers and sustained significant injuries."

German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig welcomed the measures: "Once again, it is clear: We are talking about a nationwide threat posed by violent right-wing extremism."

The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) issued a statement reiterating that right-wing extremism is the greatest danger threatening Germany from within: "Militant right-wing extremist groups are gaining support — shockingly, especially among young people," the statement read.

A few days before the raids, DW spoke with law enforcement officials about young far-right extremists and their networks in the German capital, Berlin. The city has seen repeated marches by right-wing extremist groups — including alleged members of "Deutsche Jugend Voran" or "Jung und Stark."

Wolfram Pemp is the head of the Right-Wing Extremism Division at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office. He observes that the far-right scene today is less structured than in the past. Far-right youth groups, in particular, pose a challenge for the police: "The youth groups are founded, renamed, re-founded, and then quickly disappear into obscurity again," says Pemp in an interview with DW.

Germany has stepped up its fight against right-wing extremism by establishing specialized units, allowing authorities to act quickly in cases of politically motivated crime — especially when it comes to juveniles. Searches or arrests are followed by prompt indictments or summary judgments: "Our goal is always to prevent a career in extremism," says Wolfram Pemp.

For about two years now, the groups "Deutsche Jugend Voran" and "Jung und Stark" have been trying to recruit young people. Their ideology is characterized by hatred and misanthropy: it draws onNational Socialism under Adolf Hitler. From 1933 to 1945, German Nazis murdered millions of Jews, Sinti and Roma, people with disabilities, and political opponents throughout Europe. The young members of today's neo-Nazi groups stand out by wearing clothes and brands known to be typical of neo-Nazis and skinheads.

"We do not accept calls for violence or violent attacks; instead, we take decisive action against them," said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Wednesday.

Children and adolescents are often victims of racist violence

The rise in support for right-wing violence among young people has long sparked concern for security authorities. In a report from April 2026, the Berlin victim counseling service "ReachOut" notes that children and adolescents are increasingly becoming victims of right-wing attacks. As a result, counseling centers have been set up.

However, in an interview with DW, Parto Tavangar of "ReachOut" pointed out that victims face many difficulties, especially when dealing with the police. "We observe that victims are very often even listed as perpetrators in the investigation files," Tavangar said.

Tavangar calls for victims of racist and far-right violence to be given more of a voice in German society: "These are human rights that must be recognized!"

This article was translated from German.