“What my parents taught me is that they once lived in a peaceful and secure environment, without fear in their own country,” says 19-year-old Nick. “I would like to live in a country where I don’t have to be afraid.”
I meet him at a small bar on a street corner in Freiberg, Saxony, a former mining town, where he is playing darts.
It is a cold, foggy February night, with just over two weeks until Germany’s national election.
Nick and his friend Dominic, 30, are supporters or sympathizers of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a party that has maintained a consistent second place in German polls for over a year and a half. Across Germany and Europe, the far right continues to draw an increasing number of young people, particularly men.
One of the key concerns for Nick and many other young German men is the number of attacks in Germany involving suspects who were asylum seekers. The most recent case was the fatal stabbing of a toddler and a man in a park in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria. Immigration is now the primary issue for Nick and Dominic, though they do not oppose it entirely.
“The people who integrate, who learn, who study here and contribute through work—I have no problem with them,” says Dominic. However, he is critical of those he perceives as exploiting the asylum system.
“But these days, such statements are seen as hostile,” Dominic adds. “You’re called a Nazi because of Germany’s past.”
Although they do not reject all immigration, Nick and Dominic see it as a primary issue, especially in light of recent attacks allegedly involving asylum seekers.
The AfD, long accused of anti-migrant rhetoric, has recently gained endorsements from tech billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X. Musk has hosted a live discussion with AfD leader Alice Weidel on the platform and has also dialed into a party rally.
As Germany anticipates the far right’s performance in the upcoming election, the question arises: why are so many young men being drawn to the movement, and what could this mean for a country deeply aware of its Nazi past?
Young Men Shifting Right
A 2024 Pew Research study found that 26% of German men held favorable views of the AfD, compared to 11% of women. The share of men with this opinion has increased by 10 percentage points since 2022.
During the 2024 European Parliament elections, German exit polls showed a notable rise in under-24 voters, both male and female, supporting the AfD—16%, up 11 points from 2019.
This shift coincides with a broader rise in anxiety among young people, according to a study by the German Institute for Generational Research. Among 1,000 respondents aged 16 to 25, those identifying as far-right reported the highest anxiety levels, while those in the political center had the lowest.
Women were more likely to express concerns about their rights and those of minority groups, whereas men tended to focus on conservative values less centered on rights.
AfD supporters often reject the “far-right” label, with leader Alice Weidel describing the party as a conservative, libertarian movement.
Dr. Rüdiger Maas, from the Institute for Generational Research, notes that left-wing parties frequently emphasize issues such as feminism, equality, and women’s rights.
“Overall, men don’t see themselves reflected in these themes,” he explains. “This is why they tend to vote further right.”
Germany Turning To The Far Right Party (Photo: AP)Hard-right populist parties have also gained traction in France, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Italy.
“Sixty percent of young men under 30 in EU countries would consider voting for the far right, a figure significantly higher than among women,” says Prof. Tarik Abou-Chadi, analyzing data from the 2024 European Election Study.
The Role of Social Media
Beyond gender, migration, and economic concerns, social media plays a role in shaping political views. Platforms like TikTok enable political movements to bypass traditional media, which the far right often views as hostile.
AfD “dominates” TikTok compared to other German parties, says Mauritius Dorn from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). The party’s parliamentary account has 539,000 followers, far surpassing the SPD’s 158,000.
Unofficial fan accounts also contribute significantly to spreading AfD content, Dorn explains. Research using 10 “persona-based” TikTok accounts revealed that right-leaning users encountered substantial AfD content, while left-leaning users saw a more diverse political mix.
TikTok has stated it does not “differentiate” between political ideologies and works to combat misinformation.
Dorn suggests other parties recognized TikTok’s influence too late and are now struggling to establish a comparable presence.
One AfD-affiliated influencer, 25-year-old Celina Brychcy, has over 167,000 followers, 53% of whom are male and 76% aged between 18 and 35. She primarily shares lifestyle and dance content but also promotes AfD messages.
Brychcy insists she does not profit from her political content, saying she does it to “get a message across.”
Her beliefs include reinstating military service, increasing support for stay-at-home mothers, and stricter border controls.
When questioned about multiculturalism, she asserts that integration is essential. “There are certain people who just don’t fit in with us Germans,” she says, while insisting she is not racist.
Resistance to Gender Ideology
Brychcy also opposes what she sees as “role reversal” in gender norms.
A backlash against “gender ideology” is another factor fueling far-right support among young people, according to the Institute for Generational Research. A survey of first-time voters found that those planning to support the AfD were most likely to view LGBTQ+ issues as “übertrieben”—exaggerated.
When asked whether such views are outdated, Brychcy responds, “Biologically speaking, we are men and women,” and believes people should present accordingly.
She acknowledges losing friends over her political stance and now primarily socializes with like-minded individuals.
While many AfD supporters reject the “far-right” label, Brychcy openly accepts it on issues such as border control and crime.
Historical Narratives Questioned
In Chemnitz, Saxony, young men expressing right-wing beliefs, though unwilling to go on record, share concerns about immigration and question mainstream narratives about Germany’s past.
Diana Schwitalla, a history and social studies teacher, recounts confronting Holocaust denial in her classroom. “I’ve heard students say the Second World War was a good thing and that Hitler was a good man,” she says.
At a vocational college in Freiberg, located on the site of a former Nazi concentration camp, some students express a desire for stronger national pride and stricter immigration policies.
Cora, Melina, and Joey, all 18, have observed a divide in opinions between men and women. Cora notes that some young men idealize traditional gender roles, likening it to the “Trad Wife” movement.
Some female students express fears about women’s rights being rolled back, including discussions—albeit outside mainstream politics—about restricting women’s voting rights.
During a mock election at their school, “Die Linke” won the most votes, followed by the AfD, confirming trends of young voters leaning either left or right rather than toward centrist parties.
Beyond a Protest Vote
The AfD, whose core issues include security, borders, and migrant crime, has increasingly embraced “remigration,” a term widely understood as mass deportations.
While some see AfD support as a protest vote, many backers, including Celina, Dominic, and Nick, believe the party could bring radical change.
Though other parties refuse to form coalitions with the AfD, a non-binding motion passed with AfD support in January, signaling a shift in political dynamics.
Prof. Abou-Chadi warns that if mainstream parties abandon their resistance to collaboration, the far right could become dominant. Efforts to normalize the far right appear to be succeeding—especially among the youth.