Germany’s Far-Right Comeback | NYT Opinion

Germany is a world champion at confronting its own history. Through memorial after memorial, the country has attempted to atone for its atrocities during the Holocaust and World War II. “Never again” has become a nationwide slogan.

In this Opinion Video, the satirist Jan Böhmermann — think Germany’s John Oliver — argues that Germany’s repeated and increasingly hollow attempts to “remember away” its Nazi past have actually contributed to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany Party.

Germany is holding federal elections this month and the threat of a fascist resurgence is knocking on the nation’s door. The AfD is projected to become the second-largest party in the German parliament.

----------
Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.

[nein]

As a German, I can confirm seeing Jan Böhmermann on the New York Times feels like watching your own deranged custom game character in a cut scene

[FaultierSW]

Time zones are so crazy sometimes....
in Denmark it's Noon,
in Canada it's 6am,
in the USA it's the late 1930s Germany...

[zohy]

This video felt like watching a german version of last week tonight with john Oliver

[xmartinx]

As a Swede, seeing a German politician calling Hitler a socialist and still getting 20 % of the vote is WILD.

Edit: After reading 300 comments insisting that Hitler was a socialist simply because “Nazi” is short for “National Socialist, ” I have to ask—do you know how words work? North Korea calls itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, yet it is neither democratic nor a republic. The “World Series” in American baseball does not mean the entire world participates. Words have meaning.

The most fundamental divide between the left and the right is their stance on equality. The right believes that some level of inequality is not only inevitable but beneficial to society. The left—socialists included—argue the opposite. You can believe whichever you like; I don’t care. But let’s at least be honest about definitions.

Socialism, as opposed to capitalism, is based on the belief that society functions best when economic equality is increased and the working class has greater influence. Hitler did the exact opposite—he banned unions, imprisoned socialists in concentration camps, and built an ideology entirely on the belief that human beings are not equal.

Yes, Hitler implemented state intervention in the economy—but not to promote equality. He did so to prepare for war against those he deemed inferior. Calling that socialism is like calling North Korea a democracy—wrong, misleading, and intellectually lazy.

[rajfc]

Their leader is a lesbian married to Srilankan refugee in Switzerland and pays taxes in Switzerland. The far right is quite unpredictable these days

[mr.f]

Every single comment is english but i feel like 90% are still from germans

[monkeyboy]

"Adolf Hitler was a socialist, Marxist man" is the stupidest thing i've heard this month.

[konami]

"Boy, those Germans have a word for everything!"

-Homer Simpson

[julialumasu]

Nicht der Crossover den ich auf meiner 2025 Bingo Karte hatte

[IrishPINT]

Little reminder that the other right wing parties in Europe kicked the Afd out of their EU parliamentary group for being to extreme. Freakin Le Pen doesn‘t want anything to do with them. Let that sink in.

[postbubevaloran]

We got Jan Böhmermann at the New York Times before GTA6

[poneymagique]

Excellent video! I'm french living in Germany. Really liked the "French for 'slightly concerning'" 😁
All of the Germans I know are the gentlest, most respectful persons.
However, I heard a few times (enough) that AFD is not really far right. Which is concerning...

[moos]

Some of this might sound like political satire, but please remember that we Germans have no sense of humor and if anything in this video might seem funny to an international audience it is completely unintentional.

[punpck]

"hitleresque" = french for "slightly concerning" 😂

[dietseb]

Wir wollten Jan erst selbst nach New York schicken, aber gewinnen konnte er das Ding eh net weil der Bob Tschiggerillo dabei war.

[Larodas]

The first New York Times video that was suggested to me - had at first to check if it was the real account. 😅

[blarfasel]

As a German I've to confess:
For the most part he is right on point. But the US seems already to be ahead in that game…

[Bengt-xwyj]

As a German I feel inclined to leave a comment stating that I am, in fact, German.

[darthmaul]

I love that he fell out of role a couple times and did prove that he is pretty much able to speak english without much of an accent.

[briarhawkins]

This guy's humor is amazing. I'm 💀🤣🤣