Upcoming court hearing for Höcke over Nazi phrases: charges formally presented
The accused allegedly recognized the chant as belonging to the motto of the paramilitary national-socialist detachment (SA). This fact, as argued by the prosecutor, makes Hocke accountable for sharing symbols of a past national-socialistic group.
During a gathering known as the AfD Stammtisch in a tavern in Gera, Hocke is said to have cried out "Alles für" in front of around 350 attendees and incited his followers to respond with "Deutschland" using gestures.
The prosecution claims that both Hocke and his audience were conscious of the fact that the chant was a banned slogan of the Nazi movement during that period. A case against Hocke for a similar incident in Merseburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, was already underway.
In an earlier trial in mid-May, the Landgericht fined the AfD politician 13,000 Euro for using the SA slogan "Alles für Deutschland" at an AfD campaign event in Merseburg. However, the verdict is not yet final.
The second trial in Halle has already set another date for Wednesday. Before the charging announcement, the defense made several requests, including contesting public and media bias towards their client, questioning the jurisdiction of the Landgericht Halle, and requesting the ending of the proceedings.
The court has yet to rule on these requests. The trial was initially suspended.
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- The regional court in Halle on the Saale is set to commence the arraignment of Björn Höcke for his use of a Nazi slogan during a rally.
- The indictment against Höcke alleges that he recognized and utilized the banned slogan "Alles für Deutschland," which originates from the SA, a paramilitary national-socialist group.
- The prosecutor argues that Höcke's actions constitute a distribution of symbols associated with the national-socialist movement during the Nazi era.
- This is not Höcke's first trial in Germany for using such slogans, as a similar case in Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, is already ongoing.
- During the AfD Stammtisch gathering in Gera, Höcke is accused of inaugurating the slogan in front of an audience of around 350 attendees while gesturing for them to repeat it as "Deutschland."
- The defense, led by lawyer Benedikt Bernzen, has made several requests before the hearing, including questioning public and media bias, the jurisdiction of the regional court, and demanding the suspension of the proceedings.
- Merseburg's Landgericht fined Höcke 13,000 Euros for utilizing the SA slogan during an AfD campaign event, but the verdict has not yet been finalized.
- The regional court in Halle will further explore the use of Nazi symbols and their implications, placing Björn Höcke in the center of Germany's ongoing discourse on how to address historical figures and symbols associated with the NS movement.
