A German court on Tuesday found a prominent far-right politician from the Alternative for Germany guilty of using a banned Nazi slogan in a 2021 campaign speech.
A jury of four judges sentenced Björn Höcke, a politician and chairman of the Alternative for Germany party in the eastern state of Thuringia, to a fine of 13,000 euros (about $14,000). The trial in Halle is closely watched in Germany as the far-right nationalist AfD party hopes to make significant gains in state elections in September.
During the trial, started last monthMr Hawke admitted using the phrase “All for Germany” but claimed he was unaware of its Nazi origins. The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party adopted this slogan and had it etched on their knives.
But the fact that Mr. Hawke is a former high school history teacher and that his party has been in legal trouble multiple times for using the exact same phrase appears to have weakened his argument, ultimately leading to the court ruling.
Using Nazi phrases, gestures, symbols or uniforms is illegal in Germany and is punishable by up to three years in prison. However, the court had earlier said it would not seek jail time.
The verdict comes just months before Thuringia’s legislative elections, which could give far-right parties control of the state government for the first time since the end of the Nazi regime in 1945.
The Alternative for Germany, which currently polls at 30%, could technically win enough seats in the legislature to run the state government, which would enable Mr Hawke to serve as the equivalent of a governor.
