Ideally, a graduate motto is a phrase remembered for a lifetime. It decorates the senior class T-shirts, serves as an inspiration for many graduate parties, and the title of graduate newspapers, which marks the formal end of school life for children of 18- and 19-year.
For some students at the Libig School in the city of Giecene in Central Germany, the whole topic of taking a graduate motto is now somewhat wild but quickly forgets. Or, as student representative Nicole Crack told German news magazine, mirror: “Now we are with the Nazi label. It hurts.”
‘Abi Make You Free’ (a reference to the notorious’ work frees you the signals of ‘Nazi Extremination Camps’), and’ NSDB – Burn the Duden ‘(referring to Nazi Party NSDAP, Nazi Book Burning and Juda Burning Burning and Jewdi harassment) were among the 2026 Graddal Matti for proposals for the 2026 Gradal Matti.
Some students immediately responded and reported the incident to the school administration. The access to the portal was removed, the entry graduate class was covered, and he was presented a prepared statement: ‘In our school community, there is no place for racism, anti -communicator or discrimination. We stand together against it! ,
The police is now investigating on suspicion of provoking hatred.
Returned or distant extremist mentality?
Is it just an excitement and a lapse by some immature high school graduates, a foolish mischief, or perhaps the ultimate proof of how right -wing extremist thoughts are echoing with more young people?
Nazi slogans proposed as a graduate-level motto, causing a ruckus in Germany that the new minister of education, Center-rights Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) Karin Prain called the compulsory travel camp for all students in Germany.
There are frequent anti-Jewish incidents among the students: in front of the Aushwitz Extraction Camp, where national socialists killed more than one lakh people, Gorelitz, ninth grade students of Saxoi displayed a new-Nazi salute. In Oelsnitz, ie in Saxony, a teacher of a secondary school requested a transfer after a threat of danger by distant students. And in WIESBADEN, in the state of Hesse, students appreciated the killing of millions of Jews during an educational film.
Tina Dureer was not particularly surprised when she learned about the incident in Giecene. She is the Deputy Director of Democracy Center Hessse, who gives and advises schools, municipalities and organizations in the fight against right -wing extremism. He said, “Provocation and right-wing extremist statement, discovered as this graduate motto, are usually in school, we receive more and more reports about it,” she told DW. “Swastik and right -wing extremist frescoes, Hitler salutes, racist or rightist extremist songs are sung on school trips.”
Wrightword Shift: School Society
Federal states do not have a similar way to record distant crimes in school, but a survey conducted by German Weekly, TimeA worrisome picture in German state ministries revealed: In 2024, the right -wing extremist incident increased at least 30% compared to the previous year.
In German society, search positions and provocation are becoming more acceptable. Tina Dureer has discovered ways of how people are leaving: “To recruit them for nationalist ideas and ideals of poisonous masculinity, young men are being deliberately drawn into pre-political activities through martial arts.” On social media, the color correct choice for Germany (AFD) is particularly focused on the issue of misunderstanding. “The devaluation of women and traditionally conservative gender-role model-two are experiencing the return of the elements of the right-wing extremism,” says Tina Dr.
Above all, this is a huge challenge for teachers. Two years ago, a case in Brandenburg attracted national attention when two teachers publicly exposed the right -wing extremist events in their school. He was later subjected to large -scale enmity – and eventually left school in frustration.
Dürr says, a reaction from teachers is now more necessary than ever, otherwise distant and racist provocatives can be an acceptablely acceptable. “If the right -wing extremist incarnate and criminals are allowed to do uncontrolled work, it sends a subtle message to the students that the search behavior is normal. What is normal. It is important: We should support people who have the courage to stand for a democratic value problem.”
Holocaust feels fast away
Stephen Dual knows the issue very well from personal experience. The President of the German Teachers Association is the principal of a high school in Nessus, Bavaria. He advocates the most difficult response to the right -wing extremist misconduct by the students: involvement of the police, filing the allegations, and emphasizing that public authorities are forced to take legally action.
“We can’t commit crime under carpet and say,” We will handle it with a personal discussion, and it will be enough. ” Even if the culprit is only 13 years old, we have to report it to the police.
The Düll supports the plan to travel to the federal education minister’s concentration camp memorial – 90% of schools already do so. However, educational institutions are finding it difficult to keep Holocost’s memory alive, he said.
For a study of the Jewish Claim Conference, about 40% of surveyed Germans between the ages of 18 and 29 did not know that about six million Jewish men and women were killed during the Nazi era. Eyewitnesses visiting schools, recently discovered as a dead Market Fredlander, will not be around soon. And as time passes, the historical distance increases: students live here and now, the dual explained.
“Right -wing extremist events are increasing in schools because direct relations, even through their own family, have no Longers.
This article was original in German.
When you are here: Every Tuesday, what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.
