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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on this week, facing charges for violent actions against rightwing extremists that earned them the moniker “the hammer group”.

Global terrorist designation and prosecution case

Recently, the United States designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was behind targeting locations in the country and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose venue was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

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

Court proceedings and cross-border allegations

The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the city of Dresden. Two defendants, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for multiple charges of attempted assault against far-right activists in the lead-up to the identical event in 2023.

Regional context and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a high-ranking member within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by Paul M, the network reportedly stockpiled hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and mobile phones.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist previously active with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her conviction in 2023 for targeting presumed far-right targets.

The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and called on the German administration to take similar action. In contrast, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.

“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have either already been convicted or remain detained.”

Interior ministry spokesperson