A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the moniker “Hammer Gang”.
International terror listing and prosecution case
Recently, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist group together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist networks.
Authorities in Germany state the network was responsible for targeting sites in the country and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for rightwing activists.
Certain individuals are said to have using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several with serious injuries.
Court proceedings and cross-border allegations
The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden. Two defendants, identified as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an annual event known as the “day of honor” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T, is currently on trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in 2023.
Regional context and group hierarchy
Eastern Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, tasked with planning attacks and bringing in new members.
Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled hammers, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.
Prior legal cases and global responses
Another militant formerly involved with the group, Lina E., became a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on presumed far-right targets.
The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, blocks financial holdings they may have within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal offering assistance to them.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany applauded the American move and called on the German administration to follow suit. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.
“The danger posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or are in custody.”
Government spokesperson
