🔗 Share this article

Seven individuals allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

Global terrorist designation and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the United States classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany state the network was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.

Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several severely injured.

Court proceedings and international connections

The trial involving seven defendants is expected to run until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. Two defendants, named as Johann G and Paul M., are additionally accused for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an annual event known as the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T, is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted violent acts against far-right activists in the lead-up to the identical event in 2023.

Historical background and group hierarchy

The former East Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots overseen by Paul M, the network reportedly stockpiled hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and mobile phones.

Prior legal cases and international reactions

A different activist previously active with the group, Lina E, emerged as a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the US decision and urged the German administration to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The danger from the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and particularly violent members have received convictions or are in custody.”

Interior ministry representative