🔗 Share this article

Seven individuals accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against far-right activists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

International terrorist designation and prosecution case

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

German prosecutors claim the network was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several severely injured.

Trial details and international connections

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is facing 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 hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by Paul M, the network reportedly stockpiled tools, irritant sprays, disguises and communication devices.

Previous convictions and global responses

A different activist formerly involved 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.

America's terrorist listing makes group members ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they may have within the American economy and makes it illegal offering assistance to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The danger posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have received convictions or remain detained.”

Interior ministry spokesperson