Holocaust survivor 'appalled' by AfD's rise in Germany

The AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt marks the first time a far-right party has come close to power in a German state since the end of World War Two. The party, founded in 2013, rejects comparisons to the Nazi Party and denies accusations of antisemitism, instead claiming its policies reflect common sense and that mainstream parties use such charges to silence opposition.

However, critics, including the Central Council of Jews in Germany, accuse the AfD of downplaying the Nazi past and providing a platform for extremists. The party's proposed election program for Saxony-Anhalt suggested shifting historical education away from the Nazi period towards figures like Otto von Bismarck and restoring military memorials. These proposals have alarmed critics who believe they signify a desire to forget Germany's history of confronting its Nazi past.

Umlauf, who visits schools to educate children about the Holocaust, expressed hope that the AfD's support, estimated at around 30% in Germany, would mobilize the remaining 70% of the population against it.