The German government has launched a significant crackdown on a far-right group responsible for propagating Nazi ideologies, particularly targeting children.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser announced the ban on Wednesday, targeting the far-right group Artgemeinschaft. Authorities conducted raids on the group's headquarters and numerous homes of its approximately 150 members across 12 states, aiming to dismantle the network.

In an official statement from the interior ministry, Faeser described this move as a "severe blow against right-wing extremism" and condemned the group as "deeply racist and antisemitic." Artgemeinschaft was found to be promoting a white-supremacist ideology through Nazi-era literature and cultural events.

Founded in 1951 by a former SS member, Artgemeinschaft, which roughly translates to "racial community," is considered a central hub for various smaller far-right groups in Germany. The organization advocated for all-white families, provided education on "racial preservation" to its members, and encouraged partner selection based on North or Central European backgrounds. Authorities deemed these groups as posing a direct threat to public peace in Germany, particularly due to their online indoctrination of young individuals.

Under the guise of promoting Germanic paganism, Artgemeinschaft operated an online bookstore, which authorities have determined was a pseudo-religious cover for members to spread their ideology, violating human dignity.

This marks the second recent ban on a right-wing extremist group in Germany. Just last week, Germany banned Hammerskins, another neo-Nazi organization with origins in the US, known for organizing far-right music events and selling antisemitic records. The rise of right-wing extremism in Germany is a growing concern, with Faeser having previously referred to it as "the greatest danger for people in the country." A recent study on Germany's political climate revealed that 16.5% of survey respondents accused Jews of "taking advantage" of the nation's Nazi history.

These government actions follow an investigation by German police into a video depicting individuals making Nazi salutes during an Oktoberfest celebration in the state of Saxony. Photo by Rufus46, Wikimedia commons.