Bjorn Hocke’s Controversial Speech and Fine
In 2021, Hocke was fined for adopting a Nazi motto at a campaign rally, which is forbidden in modern Germany. One of the most well-known members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was found guilty by a court of employing a Nazi catchphrase in a speech and was also mandated to pay a fine.
Bjorn Hocke was fined 14,000 euros by judges on Tuesday for uttering the slogan “Alles fur Deutschland,” or “Everything for Germany,” at a 2021 political event. It was formerly the motto of the paramilitary Sturmabteilung, or SA, group that was instrumental in Adolf Hitler’s ascent to power. Like the Nazi salute and other slogans and symbols from that era, the word is now forbidden in Germany. According to Hocke, it’s a “everyday saying.”
During the trial, he declared himself to be “completely innocent.” The ex-history instructor identified as a “law-abiding citizen.” The ruling was rendered several months ahead of Thuringia’s regional elections, when Hocke intends to contest for governor. A maximum term of three years in jail may be imposed for this charge. While defense attorneys argued for an acquittal, prosecutors had requested a six-month suspended sentence.
Hocke, 52, is a prominent member of the AfD’s far right and is viewed by German intelligence agencies as a “extremist.” He once referred to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as a “monument of shame.” Since the party’s founding in 2013, he has overseen the AfD’s regional branch in Thuringia. He will now lead the party’s campaign in the September 1 state elections. In 2018, a request to have him expelled was denied by a party tribunal.
Understanding Nazi Symbols and Flags
Know what is Nazi Crosses and Flags
Flags have been used as symbols of pride in the country for millennia. They are also used by people to declare their support for a movement or cause. The black swastika in a white circle on a red background was the most often used Nazi flag. There were several official flags flown throughout the Nazi era. For instance, the German military flew a modified version of the Imperial Reich war banner, which was far older. The Prussian eagle was placed between vertical and horizontal black stripes on that flag. It also had an iron cross, which is a customary military decoration used by the Germans. The eagle was swapped out for a Swastika, and the background was made red in the Nazi rendition.
Nazi Racial Ideology
Nazi Theory of Racial Equality
Even before taking office as Germany’s chancellor, Hitler had a racial obsession. He propagated the idea that there was a never-ending racial conflict throughout the world through his writings and speeches. Jews, who were viewed as an existential threat to the “Aryan Master race,” were at the very bottom of the racial hierarchy, which was topped by White Nordic people, followed by Slavs, Blacks, and Arabs. These ideas were publicized in newspapers, radio, television, cinema, and classrooms after the Nazis took power and became the official government ideology. Furthermore, they provided the foundation for a campaign to restructure German society, which included the exclusion of Jews from public life, the murder of Slavs and Germans with disabilities, and finally the attempt to eradicate European Jewry.
The Swastika’s Dark Legacy
Swastika
The Swastika is a powerful and long-lasting symbol of hate with a rich history. Before Adolf Hitler appropriated it for the Nazi flag with the black swastika at its center, it was in use for at least 5,000 years. The Sanskrit term svastika, which signifies “good fortune” or “well-being,” is where the word originates. The swastika, closely associated with “Aryan” civilization in India (referring to Indo-European settlers rather than the native population), was taken up by right-wing organizations in early 1900s Germany to symbolize the superiority of “Aryans” over Jews and other minorities, whom they associated with “Nordic” or “German-blooded” people. It is nearly always used to threaten and incite Nazi tyranny against anyone who does not share the views of white supremacists.
