How the AfD is rewriting German history

The far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party is reshaping German politics following a significant electoral breakthrough in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. By challenging the country's established "memory culture"—the consensus on taking responsibility for Nazi crimes and the Holocaust—the party seeks to move beyond what it terms a "guilt complex" to foster a more nationalist identity. BBC Berlin correspondent Jessica Parker highlights how the AfD leverages economic grievances and anti-immigration rhetoric to gain traction, particularly in the former East Germany. While the party faces accusations of flirting with neo-Nazi ideology and historical revisionism, its supporters are increasingly vocal, drawn to figures like Ulrich Siegmund who advocate for a shift toward traditional patriotism. This political surge forces centrist parties to confront the sustainability of the "firewall" policy intended to isolate the AfD from government power.