German court fines prominent far-right politician for knowingly using a Nazi slogan in a speech

HALLE, Germany — A court ruled on Tuesday that one of the best-known figures in the far-right Alternative for Germany party knowingly used a Nazi slogan in a speech and ordered him to pay a fine. The case centered on a speech in Merseburg in May 2021 in which Höcke used the phrase “Everything for Germany!” Prosecutors contended he was aware of its origin as a slogan of the Nazis’ SA stormtroopers, but Höcke has argued that it is an “everyday saying.” Court spokesperson Adina Kessler-Jensch said judges were convinced that Höcke was aware the formulation was a banned SA slogan. Presiding Judge Jan Stengel told Höcke that “you are an articulate, intelligent man who knows what he is saying,” German news agency dpa reported. The former history teacher testified at the trial that he is “completely innocent” and described himself as a “law-abiding citizen.” The 52-year-old Höcke is an influential figure on the hard right of Alternative for Germany, or AfD. Prosecutor Benedikt Bernzen argued in Tuesday’s closing arguments that Höcke had used Nazi vocabulary “strategically and systematically” in the past, dpa reported.