Germany is witnessing an increase in far-right extremism, resulting in the defacement and vandalism of memorials dedicated to Holocaust victims, according to a report by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a center-left research institute. The study revealed that as many as one in every 12 Germans now subscribes to some form of extreme-right ideology, a significant increase compared to previous figures.
The report noted a spread of extreme beliefs across generational divides, with a concerning rise in extremism among middle-aged and young people. This trend is worrying, as younger generations who have not experienced war or the threat of dictatorship in their lives are showing greater acceptance of far-right attitudes. Additionally, there has been an uptick in vandalism with Nazi-themed stickers and graffiti at Holocaust remembrance sites in recent years.