“Combat 18 Germany”
Charges against alleged leaders of right-wing extremist groups
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is suing four suspected right-wing extremists. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
The right-wing extremist group “Combat 18” has actually been banned for years. The federal prosecutor’s office is now bringing charges against four men who are said to have continued to operate the club.
The federal prosecutor’s office has filed charges against four alleged ringleaders of the banned right-wing extremist club “Combat 18 Germany”. As the Karlsruhe authorities announced, the accused are said to have violated a ban on association by maintaining the organizational cohesion of the banned group.
The four men are at large. They are to answer before the State Security Senate of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, “Combat 18 Germany” is an offshoot of the “Combat 18” group active in Great Britain. The German section has been banned since October 2020 because it goes against the constitutional order of the Federal Republic and the idea of international understanding. Nevertheless, the accused continued to operate the association with other members until at least spring 2022, according to the authorities. The four men played a central role.
Unconstitutional symbols
After the ban, the group hosted at least 14 conspiratorial meetings. For example, the participants completed “performance marches” and held entrance exams for new candidates.
In addition to a practical exam, a theoretical part with questions about National Socialism was also part of the admission process. One of the accused also organized right-wing rock concerts and sold recordings and clothing related to “Combat 18 Germany”. The name “Combat 18” stands for “kampfgruppe Adolf Hitler” – derived from the first and eighth letters of the alphabet (A and H).
In April 2022, more than 800 police officers carried out nationwide raids against several right-wing extremist groups – including “Combat 18”. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office had indications that the group continued to meet even after the ban. In the meantime, the authorities investigated 21 suspected members of the club. In 17 cases, the proceedings were handed over to the responsible public prosecutor’s offices in the states in the summer of 2023, it said.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) explained: “Bans for associations are a sharp sword to defend our democracy against right-wing extremist enemies of the constitution.” The Federal Prosecutor General’s indictment shows that after a ban, the security authorities follow up “very carefully” to see whether activities continue. “Any continuation of the club activity of “Combat 18 Germany” is therefore punishable and will be pursued very consistently,” said Faeser.