A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against far-right activists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.
International terror listing and prosecution case
Recently, the United States designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist group together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist networks.
German prosecutors claim the group was behind attacks on sites in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.
Some suspects are allegedly accused of employing hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several with serious injuries.
Trial details and international connections
The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from throughout the continent.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted assault against neo-Nazis prior to the same rally in that year.
Historical background and group hierarchy
Eastern Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the often militant anti-fascist networks that oppose them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.
Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the network allegedly accumulated tools, pepper spray, disguises and mobile phones.
Prior legal cases and global responses
Another militant previously active with the group, Lina E., became a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.
The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.
The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and called on the German administration to follow suit. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.
“The danger from the organization has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have received convictions or remain detained.”
Government spokesperson
