Young Alternative for Germany

Young Alternative for Germany

The Young Alternative for Germany is the official youth organization of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Founded in 2013, it functions as a platform for politically active members under the age of 35, aiming to recruit young supporters and develop future party leadership. The group has been a significant source of internal party dynamism and has frequently attracted scrutiny for its ideological stances and provocative actions, often positioning itself further to the right within the broader New Right movement in Germany.

History

The organization was established in June 2013 in Berlin, shortly after the founding of the Alternative for Germany itself. Its early development was closely tied to the party's initial focus on Euroscepticism and opposition to Eurozone bailouts. Key founding figures included individuals like Markus Frohnmaier, who later became a member of the Bundestag. The group quickly sought to establish a presence across Germany's sixteen federal states, known as *Landesverbände*. Its growth paralleled the AfD's electoral successes, particularly following the European migrant crisis in 2015, which reshaped the party's and the youth wing's primary focus toward immigration and national identity politics.

Organization and structure

Structurally, it mirrors the federal system of its parent party, with state associations and local chapters. The highest decision-making body is the Federal Congress (*Bundeskongress*), which elects a Federal Executive Board (*Bundesvorstand*). This board includes a Federal Spokesperson, a position held by figures such as Tim Krause and later Lukas Klingholz. The organization maintains a close, though sometimes tense, operational relationship with the AfD's national executive committee, led by figures like Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel. Membership is officially restricted to individuals under 35, with many active members subsequently transitioning to prominent roles within the broader Alternative for Germany apparatus.

Political positions

Its political platform is characterized by national conservatism, right-wing populism, and strong opposition to current immigration policies. Core positions include advocating for the remigration of migrants, a concept often associated with the controversial Erfurt Resolution, and expressing deep Euroscepticism, including calls for Dexit—Germany's exit from the European Union. The group is vocally critical of what it labels "woke" ideology, gender mainstreaming, and policies addressing climate change, such as those stemming from the Paris Agreement. It frequently references the preservation of Germany's *Leitkultur* (leading culture) and traditional family models.

Activities and campaigns

The youth wing is highly active in election campaigns, organizing rallies, distributing flyers, and utilizing social media platforms like Telegram for mobilization. It holds regular federal meetings and ideological training events, such as the "Academy of the Young Alternative." Members often engage in public demonstrations, including counter-protests against movements like Fridays for Future and events commemorating historical events such as the Dresden bombings. The organization also participates in international networking, maintaining contacts with other European right-wing populist youth groups, such as the Identitarian Movement in France and Austria.

Controversies

The organization has been embroiled in numerous controversies, leading to its official surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several states, including Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, on suspicion of right-wing extremism. Prominent incidents include the expulsion of member Patrick Schröder for using banned Reichsbürger movement symbols and the public backlash against statements by former spokesperson Tim Krause. Its events and publications have repeatedly drawn accusations of historical revisionism, particularly regarding the Nazi era, and flirting with völkisch concepts, leading to condemnations from the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

Relationship with the AfD

While formally the party's youth wing, its relationship with the Alternative for Germany leadership has been complex and occasionally fractious. It is often seen as an ideological radicalizing force, pushing the party toward harder-line positions, particularly on immigration and the European Union. Internal tensions have surfaced publicly, such as during debates over the Erfurt Resolution and the group's criticism of perceived party moderation. Despite this, it remains a crucial recruitment and mobilization tool for the AfD, with many of its alumni, like Markus Frohnmaier and Christoph Berndt, securing candidacies for the Bundestag and European Parliament.

Category:Youth wings of political parties in Germany Category:Alternative for Germany