BERLIN, Germany – Thousands of people took to the streets across Germany on Saturday, April 26, as the newly formed alliance "Together for Germany" organized populist protests calling for stricter border controls and an end to German financial and military support for Ukraine. The demonstrations, held in multiple cities, were met with large counter-rallies, sporadic clashes with police, and a number of arrests.
Populist Protests and Far-Right Influence
The "Together for Germany" movement, which has gained traction in recent months, advocates for tougher nationwide border regulations and a halt to aid for Ukraine. Security officials and Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, warned ahead of the protests that far-right extremists might attempt to steer the rallies for their own purposes.
In Weimar, Thuringia-a stronghold of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party-around 1,100 people gathered for the protest, with speeches from known far-right figures. Simultaneously, about 850 counter-demonstrators, mobilized by the Weimar Citizens' Alliance Against the Right, staged a protest in response.
Scale and Spread of Demonstrations
The protests and counter-protests spanned several German cities:
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Dortmund: The Together for Germany event drew about 800 participants, while 300 to 500 counter-protesters temporarily surrounded the rally.
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Karlsruhe: Around 200 attended the populist demonstration, but six counter-demonstration groups brought out approximately 1,200 people.
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Koblenz: 450 people joined the Together for Germany event, while 800 attended the "Koblenz Together Against Fascism" rally. Police ordered more than 50 individuals to leave the city center, detained 17 people, and initiated over 40 criminal proceedings.
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Berlin and Hamburg: Smaller populist demonstrations were significantly outnumbered by counter-protesters in these more progressive cities.
Clashes and Police Response
Several confrontations between protesters, counter-demonstrators, and police were reported:
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In Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, police said officers were attacked by partially masked left-wing demonstrators, prompting the use of batons and pepper spray. One person collapsed during the incident.
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In Nuremberg, counter-demonstrators attempted to block a Together for Germany rally, leading to physical altercations that left eight police officers injured.
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In Koblenz, police responded to altercations and vandalism, including an attack on a right-wing information booth and a blockade that resulted in minor injuries to three officers.
These demonstrations come amid a broader wave of political activism in Germany. Recent years have seen large-scale protests both for and against right-wing extremism, as well as regular peace marches and anti-war rallies. Security officials remain vigilant, warning that extremist groups could exploit public unrest for their agendas.
The events of April 26 highlight the deep divisions in German society over issues of migration, national identity, and foreign policy-divisions that continue to play out in the streets and in national discourse.