Extreme right on a GDR scooter: how the AfD is capitalizing on new Ostalgia 37 years after the Fall of the Wall

The AfD party is using the iconic DDR scooter Simson in its campaign, tapping into a new form of Ostalgie in East Germany. This nostalgic approach aims to resonate with younger generations who did not experience the DDR firsthand. The scooter symbolizes freedom and has gained popularity on social media, becoming a political tool for the AfD. As the 37th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall approaches, the party's use of DDR imagery, including slogans and songs, reflects a complex narrative about national identity and migration. Critics argue that this appropriation overlooks the regime's oppressive history.