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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against rightwing extremists that resulted in the moniker “Hammer Gang”.

International terrorist designation and legal charges

Recently, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the group was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are said to have using hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some severely injured.

Court proceedings and international connections

The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden. Two defendants, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., are additionally accused for attacks in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering known as the “day of honor” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

Separately, a different German individual, Maja T., is currently on trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against far-right activists prior to the same rally in that year.

Historical background and group hierarchy

Eastern Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, responsible for organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. At depots managed by the suspect, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist formerly involved with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation makes group members barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The danger from the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have either received convictions or remain detained.”

Government representative