Amid a broader surge of politically-motivated crimes in Germany over the past two years, attacks and serious threats against politicians have sharply increased as well. This year, several attacks were carried out in the run-up to the European parliamentary elections in June and, more recently, in the run-up to state elections in Sachsen and Thüringen in September. At least 11 high-profile violent attacks against politicians have occurred in 2024 alone.

With Germany slated to hold federal elections next fall, it’s critical to unpack the narratives that are currently fuelling the rising violence. Disinformation plays a central role in many of the most harmful narratives, including foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), mainly from Russia. Malicious actors are spreading sensationalist, disinforming narratives with the intent of undermining trust in public institutions and democratic processes, and the deluge of these online narratives heavily contributes to the growing offline violence against political officials. 

GDI is proud to present a new report on political violence in Germany, analysing the top disinformation narratives and purveyors driving a troubling rise in these attacks. In this report, we break down the disinforming online discourse surrounding Germany’s civic institutions, polarising figures, key events and foreign influence using a sample of 43 high-visibility disinformation articles sourced by GDI’s Intelligence team. Additionally, we share insights about the tactics and procedures that disinformation actors in Germany are using to skirt sanctions and other forms of regulation in order to make sure their content is seen. 

Download the report to learn more.