Germany Summary after protests against AfD youth organization in Giessen
The founding of the AfD youth organization caused huge protests in Hesse with thousands of participants. Activists and police want to take stock today
30.11.2025, 03:47
SDA
According to the police, the demonstrations by various organizers were largely peaceful on Saturday. In some places, however, there were violent clashes between protesters and police.
The deployment of up to 5,000 officers at the same time was one of the largest ever in Hesse. The police cordoned off the AfD event location over a wide area and broke up roadblocks. Water cannons were used on several occasions.
"Huge success" as an initial assessment
The "Aktionsbündnis widersetzen" (Resist Action Alliance) plans to report on the experiences of the protests at a press conference (11.00 a.m.) in Giessen. Further details from the police are also expected.
On the day of the demonstration, the alliance described the civil disobedience actions against the founding of the AfD youth organization as a "huge success". Around 15,000 people took part in blockades and blocked access to the founding congress. At the same time, the alliance criticized the police and complained about the use of water cannons at low temperatures as well as batons and pepper spray.
Some groups had blocked roads in the area in order to prevent access to the founding congress, which ultimately had around 800 participants. In some cases, this led to violent clashes with the police.
How many arrests were made?
As of Saturday evening, the police were aware of ten slightly injured officers, but no definitive figure had yet been released. According to a spokesperson, the police initially had no definitive figures on the number of injured demonstrators.
The Giessen-Marburg University Hospital counted around 15 demonstrators receiving treatment there on Saturday afternoon. It was also unclear how many people may have been provisionally arrested or sent off.
The police had originally expected up to 50,000 protesters from all over Germany. The police counted more than 25,000 demonstrators on the streets of the city, which has a population of around 92,000. The alliance "widersetzen" spoke of over 50,000 participants.
Federal politicians on site
The event to launch the new AfD youth organization began around two hours late due to the protests - even the AfD federal chairmen Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla did not arrive on time. AfD member of the Bundestag Julian Schmidt was reportedly beaten on his way to the hall and suffered injuries to his face.
The new AfD youth organization was founded in the afternoon, with Jean-Pascal Hohm becoming the first chairman of Generation Deutschland (GD). In contrast to the previous Young Alternative, the GD is to be closely linked to the AfD. All AfD members under the age of 36 can join.pr
