🔗 Share this article

A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on this week, facing charges for violent actions against far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

International terror listing and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the United States classified the organization as a terrorist group along with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany state the group was responsible for targeting locations in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are said to have using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several severely injured.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving seven defendants is expected to run until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, identified as Johann G. and Paul M, also face charges for attacks in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an annual event called the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from throughout the continent.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T, is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted assault against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in that year.

Regional context and group hierarchy

Eastern Germany has historically served as a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a high-ranking member within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots managed by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated tools, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist formerly involved with the group, Lina E., became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on presumed far-right targets.

America's terrorist listing renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they may have within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.

“The threat from the organization has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and most aggressive participants have either already been convicted or are in custody.”

Interior ministry spokesperson