Clash over Germany's Nazi past as far-right AfD poised for election breakthrough
The far-right AfD party is polling strongly ahead of state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, campaigning on a platform that challenges Germany's historical memory of the Nazi era. The party's rise has caused significant concern among other political factions and intelligence agencies.
Why it matters
The potential electoral success of a party labeled as right-wing extremist signals a major shift in German political discourse regarding national identity and history.
Image caption, Many AfD supporters believe modern Germany should be proud of its history and focus less on its Nazi past
A party that wants to defund "anti-German" art and teach children less about Hitler, as part of a "patriotism" agenda, could soon take power in a German state.
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD) is polling way ahead in the eastern region of Saxony-Anhalt before state elections on 6 September.
It describes German memory culture, in its manifesto, as a "guilt complex".
It is a claim that is deeply divisive in a country where facing up to Nazi crimes has long been seen as the nation's moral anchor.
At an election rally in the town of Querfurt, 70-year-old Gerd has tacked a small, frayed German flag to the handles of his mobility scooter.
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