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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, facing charges for violent actions against rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.

Global terror listing and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

German prosecutors claim the network was behind attacks on sites in the country and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose venue was known as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Some suspects are allegedly accused of using hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some with serious injuries.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. Two defendants, named as Johann G. and Paul M, also face charges for violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

Separately, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for multiple charges of attempted violent acts against far-right activists in the lead-up to the identical event in 2023.

Regional context and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled hammers, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Prior legal cases and global responses

A different activist formerly involved with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on presumed far-right targets.

The US designation makes group members barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the US decision and called on the government in Berlin to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The danger from the [Antifa Ost] group has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have either already been convicted or remain detained.”

Government representative