Right-wing structures at the (Bremen) fire department uncovered

dossier

"... Right-wing extremist structures have been uncovered in the Bremen fire department. State security and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution now determined how far the structures went (...) The allegations included two complexes: The first was about right-wing extremist and racist images that were distributed in the private chat group of a guard department, the second complex was about misogynistic and sexist incidents at another station. (...) A research team from Radio Bremen, NDR and the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" contributed Our own research found that individual firefighters had complained to their direct superiors, but this had led to nothing. Knorr confirmed this. It is to be expected that superiors also knew about the chats, at least tolerated them, and were possibly also involved in them.” Report from November 25, 2020 in MiGAZIN – unfortunately see also other cities:

• Right-wing music and deprivation of liberty: Police investigation after serious allegations and criminal complaint after the tent camp of the Biederitz youth fire department in Saxony-Anhalt
  • Police are investigating the youth fire brigade camp in Eisleben
    “A youth fire brigade camp from August this year is currently keeping the police busy in the south of the country. According to the information, the officials are investigating seven camp supervisors. Among other things, they are said to have tied a child to a chair. (…) As the Volksstimme (€) reports, children from the youth fire brigades from Biederitz and Heyrothsberge are said to have been woken up with right-wing music in the summer camp. In addition, a child was tied to a chair against his will. The police did not provide any details about the incidents as the investigation is still ongoing…”Contribution from MDR SAXONY-ANHALT from November 10th, 2026 
  • Biederitz: Serious allegations after fire brigade camp in Eisleben – first firefighters suspended
    "After a youth fire brigade camp in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, there are serious allegations against supervisors from the local fire brigades in Biederitz and Heyrothsberge. According to research by our editorial team, the Jerichower Land police station is investigating suspicions of deprivation of liberty, coercion, playing right-wing radical music, showing the Hitler salute and violating the duty of care and upbringing. The existence of the investigation and the existing written ones Documents have been confirmed to our editorial team by official municipal authorities.
    According to our editorial team's own research from reliable circles, drastic personnel consequences have already been drawn on site. A total of six affected fire department personnel are said to have been relieved of their duties and suspended with immediate effect for the duration of the ongoing investigation.
    The allegations in detail
    The investigation is based on events during the seven-day summer camp in Eisleben. There, children are said to have been woken up with, among other things, right-wing radical music and one child was tied to a chair against his will. There is also talk of showing the Hitler salute and heavy alcohol consumption among the carers.
    The chairwoman of the district fire brigade association in an exclusive conversation: “No prejudice, but complete information“…”Report from November 10th, 2026 in meetingpoint-jl.de 
• Allegations confirmed: racist statements at the Berlin youth fire department
  "... junior employees of the Berlin fire department are said to have posted extremist statements in a chat group. "The Berlin fire department was informed that there were statements in language and images in a chat group in the environment of a youth fire department, the content of which is in no way compatible with the basic values ​​and self-image of our organization," it said in a statement. The Berlin fire brigade's extremism officer has now confirmed the allegations. Ruben Obenhaus told the RBB “Abendschau” that these were “racist statements” and statements against other members. Obenhaus emphasized that the statements were in no way compatible with the basic values ​​and self-image of the fire department. Fire department spokesman Vinzenz Kasch said his organization would take appropriate action. However, he did not give any details. (…) The right-wing extremist chat group for young talent became known on Wednesday. Bullying is also said to have been an issue. According to the fire department, the events are related to a youth fire department in Charlottenburg. The organization found out about it from a parent close to the youth fire department. According to the fire department, more than 1,000 girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 19 belong to the Berlin youth fire department. This makes it one of the largest youth organizations in the capital.” Report from September 22, 2025 in MiGAZIN 
  • Press release from September 17, 2025 from the Berlin Fire Department:Inappropriate comments in a youth fire department chat group 
  • Extremist content shared in the chat of the Berlin youth fire brigade
    rbb report from September 18, 2025 
• Racism in the fire department: document destruction prevents complete processing by Bremen fire department representatives 
  "The Bremen fire department commissioner Sermin Riedel wants to establish a new reporting culture in the fire department. The background is massive allegations against the Bremen fire department that came to light in 2020. An official had spread racist and right-wing extremist messages in chats. In addition, several firefighters are said to have behaved in a misogynistic and sexist manner towards a colleague. As the report shows, it emerged during the investigation that other members of the chat group also shared such content or marked it in approval. "However, no charges were taken against these people disciplinary action was taken,” this report states. It was no longer possible for the commissioner to provide further clarification as to whether and why no further steps were taken because, according to the report, the relevant investigation documents “were destroyed at the time of their involvement.” (…) Riedel said when presenting her first activity report for 2022 and 2023: “Responsibilities must be made clear: So who actually has to report what, when, why, and who actually has to notice when, what, why.” Several criminal proceedings, investigations and discussions made the extent of the cases clear. “They also uncovered a few other things in the Bremen fire department, such as discriminatory language or problematic acceptance rituals,” reported Riedel. The fire department representative now wants to build trust, clarify roles, strengthen communication and create a fear-free climate. (…) In April last year, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against a civil servant firefighter on suspicion of racist attitudes.He is said to have made xenophobic comments towards those involved in a traffic accident.” Report from April 2, 2025 in MiGAZIN (“Files in the shredder, problems on the table: racism in the fire department”)Activity report the independent representative for the Bremen fire department
• Racism: Disciplinary proceedings against Bremen firefighters
  “As early as 2020, the Bremen fire department was burdened with allegations that there were racist and right-wing extremist attitudes among employees. A new case is now alarming the interior authorities: a firefighter is said to have appeared xenophobic.
  Because of suspicions of racist attitudes, the head of the Bremen professional fire department has initiated disciplinary proceedings against a civil servant employee. The firefighter was banned from conducting official business, a spokeswoman for the Bremen Senator for the Interior and Sport said on Thursday. The man's apartment in Bremen and his workplace were searched. The disciplinary procedure was handed over by the fire department to the Senator for the Interior. According to the information, a complaint was filed against the firefighter at the end of January for insulting him because he made xenophobic comments to people involved in a traffic accident. The police then initiated an investigation. (…) Based on the results of the investigation so far, there is a suspicion that the official violated the duty of loyalty to the constitution. Until the investigation is completed, the man is prohibited from conducting official business or entering the office…”Report from April 29, 2024 in Migazin Looking back to 2022, see this information below or the first message at the top in the marker
• Kamen: Right-wing chat among firefighters
  “Members of the Kamen fire department shared right-wing extremist postings in a WhatsApp group. (…) At the end of December, a member of the eleven-member WhatsApp group informed a superior about the chat. Five firefighters are said to be responsible for the postings. The city went to the police. The public prosecutor did not see any criminal significance. However, the city itself drew disciplinary consequences.”Report from March 2nd, 2024 in Antenne Unna 
• Right-wing extremist incidents also occurred at the Berlin fire department
  “There have been a number of incidents with a right-wing extremist background in recent years, not only in the Berlin police but also in the fire department. Since 2021, the fire department's extremism officer has processed a total of 23 cases. Almost half of them were explicitly about this area, the others were not given the context. This emerges from a response from the Senate and the fire department to a request from Green MP Vasili Franco, which was received by the German Press Agency. In the answer, the offenses committed by firefighters or paramedics include: showing the Hitler salute, right-wing extremist activities, right-wing extremist chat groups, membership in the Reichsbürger and behavior typical of Reichsbürger and insulting colleagues with a migrant background. (…) Disciplinary or criminal proceedings were initiated in eleven cases, and a fine has only been imposed once. Two disciplinary measures were overturned by a court, two proceedings were discontinued, two “other remedies were achieved” and four proceedings are still ongoing. Other cases were resolved without disciplinary proceedings…”dpa report from February 17, 2024 in the Süddeutsche Zeitung online , see also:
  • “No error culture”: Numerous right-wing extremist incidents in the Berlin fire department
    “There are always racism problems not only in the Berlin police, but also in the fire department - to a "terrifying extent": Hitler salutes, right-wing extremist activities, Reichsbürger memberships, right-wing symbols on private cars, insults to colleagues with a migrant background. Greens criticize the lack of a culture of error. (…) Since 2021, the fire department's extremism officer has processed a total of 23 cases. Almost half of them were explicitly about this area, the others were not given the context. This emerges from a response from the Senate and the fire department to a request from Green MP Vasili Franco, which was received by the German Press Agency. (…) The fire department also has an “activity report from the extremism commissioner,” but it says: “It is not intended for publication.” (…) The Green Party's domestic politician Vasili Franco criticized: "Right-wing extremism in security authorities is not a new phenomenon, but the extent of it in the Berlin fire department is frightening. Problems here have been swept under the carpet for years. The impression is that there is no serious culture of error within the Berlin fire department. No wonder that even the activity report of the extremism commissioner is kept secret to this day." Franco accused the fire department of rarely having consequences for misconduct. What is needed is a study on extremist ideas within the fire servicehr.”Article from February 20, 2024 in Migazin 
• Incitement to hatred: Fire brigade in Leonberg chants right-wing radical slogans over loudspeakers
  “Members of the Leonberg Volunteer Fire Department are said to have spread right-wing radical slogans over the loudspeaker of a fire engine. The five men, aged 23 to 36, were traveling in Leonberg on Saturday night when several residents heard shouts from the car and reported the incident, the police said. The 25-year-old driver was subsequently found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.8. It was still unclear whether the other occupants were also drunk. The suspects are now being investigated on suspicion of sedition. The five men were suspended from duty…”Report from July 18, 2023 in Migazin 
• Nazi accusations against Berlin fire brigade member 
  “…The chief fire chief Florian Habekost, a professional firefighter in the Berlin fire department, employed at the Berlin-Kreuzberg station (station number 1600) and chief fire chief in the Adlershof volunteer fire department (station number 5310), is obviously right-wing conservative. A photo shows him in front of an NPD poster, celebrating in the yard of the Adlershof Volunteer Fire Department. This was positioned at the station by the former fire chief of the Adlershof Volunteer Fire Department, Matthias Gaefke, after some comrades had previously attacked the left-wing politician Dr. Gregor Gysi had invited. The new fire chief Donald Schulz (profession: police officer) also seems to protect Florian Habekost's actions by not intervening. On June 7, 2018, there was a journalistically documented incident in which a citizen with a migrant background was said to have been insulted while on duty with the professional fire department. The entries in his high school diploma book are interesting, in which classmates see and describe him as a budding Nazi. His right-wing conservative/nationalist sentiments, which he now demonstrates at the station of the Berlin-Adlershof Volunteer Fire Department, among other things. By wearing Thor Steiner clothing to the outside world, it became clear at an early stage and was recognized by other people…”Report from November 28, 2020 at antifa-berlin.info 

Last see our dossier from 2019:AfD dispute in the fire brigade association: President Ziebs' resignation is called for - because of his clear stance against the AfD

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