以種族主義為基礎的納粹德國是二次世界大戰禍首,因而舉世對於德國極右派勢力的興起都極為關注。在統一之前,西德政府對於納粹的惡行負以全責,且以加強民眾教育的方式企圖根除納粹的餘孽,其整體效果甚佳,但終究無法徹底。東德政權的做法迥異,不但否認與納粹有任何關聯,且以高壓與醜化方來教育民眾,使得東德人民對於納粹的暴行知之其淺,無法培養出自己對於納粹的看法。 德國統一之後,各種問題叢生,使得不少德東人民無法適應新環境,加上外籍人數不斷增加,在西德極右派政黨的領導與煸動之下,東德極右派勢力一時高漲。但是德國極右派勢力的理論基礎薄弱,其成員素質低落,多半只是為反對而反對,他們並非歷史的殘餘,而只種時代的現象,其影響力有限。
Due to Germany’s role in the Second World War, the rise of German right wing extremist alarms many European countries. Before unification, West Germany paid full responsibility for Nazi war crimes and tried to root out its remnants through political education. The results, while satisfactory, are still not complete. East Germany, however, had its own way to handle the Nazi matter. It rejected any connection with the Nazi regime. Therefore, owing to socialist propaganda, the East Germans know little about their Nazi past. Since unification, some East Germans could not keep up with the swift pace of change. With the support from the West, the East extremist move-ment is on the rise. But as a whole, the extremist theoretical base is thin and most extremists are simply venting their emotions. Many believe that their influence is quite limited.