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A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

Global terror listing and prosecution case

Recently, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was behind targeting locations in Germany and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a meeting point for rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are said to have employing hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some severely injured.

Trial details and international connections

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the city of Dresden. Two defendants, named as Johann G. and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in that year.

Historical background and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has historically served as a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigrant youth groups, as well as the often militant anti-fascist networks that counter them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, tasked with organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities overseen by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated tools, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.

Prior legal cases and global responses

Another militant previously active with the group, Lina E, became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation makes group members barred from entering the US, blocks financial holdings they may have within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to follow suit. However, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have received convictions or remain detained.”

Interior ministry spokesperson