The Rise of the Far-Right in Eastern Germany: A Look at Görlitz

The Angry East

Photographs by Ingmar Nolting

Text by Christopher F. Schuetze

Ingmar Nolting and Christopher Schuetze spent time this summer in the Görlitz District, located in the most eastern part of Germany, engaging with voters, activists, and politicians.

As the elections approach in the eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia, the political landscape reveals a complex and troubling picture. Regardless of the results on Sunday, the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has firmly transitioned from the fringes of politics to a significant force in Görlitz.

Situated near the Polish border, Görlitz’s district in Saxony witnessed over 40 percent of its votes cast for the AfD during the recent European Parliament elections in June. This figure marked the highest percentage for any district across the nation.

Despite the fact that certain factions within the AfD have been designated as extremist by domestic intelligence agencies, the party has maintained a presence in the state government for a decade. This upcoming election is poised to be historic, as it may represent the first time since the era of the Nazis that a far-right party secures victory in statewide elections in Germany.

The region, once renowned for its expansive open-pit coal mines, was the industrial heart of the former East Germany. However, following the reunification of Germany in 1990, many of these mines were shut down, leading to significant job losses and a plummeting economy that now ranks among the lowest in the country.

Interestingly, while Görlitz has a lower immigrant population compared to many other areas in Germany, a sense of discontent simmers among residents. Many locals express frustration over what they perceive as excessive government spending on asylum seekers, migrants, and military support for Ukraine, further fueling the rise of political extremes in the region.