A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network began their trial on this week, facing charges for attacks targeting far-right activists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.
International terrorist designation and legal charges
Recently, the US government designated the organization as a terrorist group together with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.
Authorities in Germany state the group was behind attacks on sites in the country and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a meeting point for rightwing activists.
Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several with serious injuries.
Trial details and cross-border allegations
The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. Two defendants, named as Johann G and Paul M, also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, around an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted assault against far-right activists in the lead-up 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 groups, as well as the often militant anti-fascist networks that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.
Alongside Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by the suspect, the group reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, concealment items and mobile phones.
Previous convictions and international reactions
Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E, became a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on presumed far-right targets.
The US designation makes group members barred from entering the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.
The German right-wing AfD party applauded the US decision and urged the German administration to take similar action. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.
“The threat from the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or remain detained.”
Interior ministry representative
