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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.

International terror listing and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the US government classified the organization as a terrorist group together with several other European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the network was behind targeting locations in the country and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are allegedly accused of employing hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some with serious injuries.

Trial details and international connections

Court proceedings involving seven defendants is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., are additionally accused for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honor” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T., is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted assault against far-right activists in the lead-up to the identical event in 2023.

Historical background and group hierarchy

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

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots managed by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

Another militant formerly involved with the organization, Lina E, became a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting presumed far-right targets.

The US designation makes group members barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to follow suit. However, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The danger from the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or remain detained.”

Interior ministry spokesperson