Far-right German politician tried for Nazi slogan
By Ido Vock
A leading far-right German politician has gone on trial, accused of using a Nazi slogan.
Björn Höcke, who leads the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Thuringia, is being tried for saying the words “All for Germany!” during a 2021 rally.
The slogan is associated with the SA stormtroopers, who played a key role in the Nazis’ rise to power.
Mr Höcke – a former history teacher – denies knowing about the phrase’s roots.
He faces up to three years’ imprisonment.
At a campaign event in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in May 2021, Mr Höcke ended a speech by saying: “Everything for our homeland, everything for Saxony-Anhalt, everything for Germany!”
Prosecutors say he knew the phrase was banned for being associated with the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA). But he says it is a “common saying” which should not be criminalised.
In a second incident at another rally in December 2023, he said: “All for…”, to which the audience responded: “Germany!”
