Germany sees far-right 'Active Clubs' nearly double, government says

The number of far-right martial arts groups in Germany has risen sharply over the past two years. The federal government now knows of about 20 regional so-called Active Clubs, compared with about a dozen in June 2024. The figures come from the Interior Ministry's response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Greens, which was reported by the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland and seen by the dpa news agency. The number rose significantly in 2026 in particular, the response said. The concept originated in the United States, with the groups using fitness and combat sports training mainly to draw young men into the scene.

The ministry said the groups continue to pose a potential for violence and a threat. Regular combat training and displays of toughness in martial videos and posts point to a "professionalization of violent capability," it said. Direct clashes with political opponents are not currently being observed. The groups are highly secretive but are actively trying to recruit young men. The government said it has no evidence so far of links between German groups and Active Clubs abroad, but did not rule out international networking in the future.

Green lawmaker Marlene Schoenberger criticized the government for being unable to say how many crimes are linked to the groups or to identify any so-called dangerous individuals within them, because the clubs have rarely come to the attention of prosecutors. Speaking to the RND, she called it "a dangerous circular argument": "That the scene wants to stay under the radar is the core of its concept and no proof that it is harmless." She called for the Active Clubs and far-right youth groups to be put on the agenda of the conference of interior ministers in December.