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In an unconventional approach to public outreach, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) caucus within the Brandenburg state parliament has introduced a series of life-sized cardboard displays featuring controversial figures from the nation's imperial past alongside its modern leadership. The installation blends contemporary political branding with nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century historical iconography, setting off fresh debate over the party's ideological direction.
The full-scale standees showcase the right-wing party’s federal co-chairs, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, standing in company with prominent figures of the former German Empire and Weimar Republic. Among the historical representations are Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Reich President Paul von Hindenburg, and Emperor Wilhelm II, aligning modern populist politicians with leaders from earlier epochs of German statehood.
According to the state parliamentary group, these cardboard cut-outs have been assembled to appear at public gatherings and campaign stops across Brandenburg. The visual displays are designed to function as interactive fixtures where curious supporters and passersby can take photographs next to both current party brass and former statesmen.
Addressing potential criticism regarding the provocative choice of figures, Hans-Christoph Berndt, the leader of the AfD parliamentary faction in the Brandenburg legislature, insisted that the initiative should not be viewed as an earnest historical canonization. Instead, Berndt asserted that the displays were produced with a deliberate element of humor to offer voters an entertaining photo opportunity.
"This isn't meant to be hero worship," Berndt stated, emphasizing that the parliamentary group did not intend to promote uncritical devotion toward any of the depicted leaders. He cautioned that outside observers and political opponents should not misinterpret the promotional stands as an ideological campaign to glorify the past.
Despite Berndt's assurances, the choice of historical personalities touches on deeply sensitive chapters of German history. Foremost among the contentious selections is Paul von Hindenburg, who lived from 1847 to 1934 and served as the president of the Weimar Republic. Hindenburg is widely regarded by historians and critics as "Hitler's enabler" due to his fateful decision in January 1933 to appoint Adolf Hitler as Reich Chancellor, effectively dismantling the democratic order and ushering in the Nazi dictatorship.
When pressed on the inclusion of the late field marshal and statesman, Berndt defended Hindenburg's legacy and warned against what he characterized as an unfair historical revisionism. The parliamentary leader argued that modern discourse tends to disproportionately malign past statesmen, insisting that commentators should refrain from "demonizing" complex figures from Germany's prior eras.
Elaborating on his defense, Berndt highlighted Hindenburg's democratic mandate during a tumultuous period in central Europe. "Hindenburg was, after all, the only freely elected president of the German Reich," Berndt noted. He further argued that Hindenburg was "certainly someone who contributed greatly to stabilization in the 1920s," pointing to his governance during the volatile middle years of the Weimar Republic prior to the catastrophic rise of National Socialism.
Alongside Hindenburg stands Otto von Bismarck, the "Iron Chancellor" who shaped modern Germany between 1815 and 1898. Bismarck played an instrumental role in driving forward the unification of the German Empire in 1871 and introduced groundbreaking social insurance systems to protect industrial workers. However, his tenure was also defined by deep internal conflict, marked by authoritarian state campaigns against the Roman Catholic Church and the formal banning of the Social Democratic Party.
The third historical persona featured in the AfD display is Emperor Wilhelm II, who ruled Germany until his abdication following defeat in World War I. Wilhelm II, who lived from 1859 to 1941, was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. His aggressive foreign policy stance and imperial posturing have long been scrutinized as key catalysts that contributed to the outbreak of the First World War.
The strategic placement of Weidel and Chrupalla alongside imperial and Weimar figures visually connects the modern right-wing party to a pre-democratic and early republican lineage. By presenting these figures simultaneously at public events, the AfD seeks to integrate nostalgic representations of German state power into its contemporary political identity, prompting concerns over how the party frames historical national sovereignty.
The deployment of these promotional props comes at a sensitive time for the AfD in Brandenburg. The state parliamentary caucus has increasingly relied on high-profile visual tactics and polarizing historical references to connect with voters and mobilize its grassroots network across eastern Germany.
The controversy over the historical displays also unfolds against a backdrop of heightened state surveillance and official scrutiny. The Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence agency responsible for monitoring anti-democratic activity, has officially designated the state's AfD branch as a confirmed far-right extremist organization.
The intelligence agency's classification reflects enduring state concerns regarding the party's compatibility with the free democratic basic order. The extremist label carries significant reputational and operational ramifications for the political organization, intensifying the scrutiny placed on its campaign materials, public statements, and ideological associations.
The AfD in Brandenburg has fiercely rejected the extremist designation and is actively challenging the domestic intelligence service's assessment in court. As the legal battle over its constitutional classification continues, the party's use of imperial imagery and controversial figures like Hindenburg and Bismarck remains a stark focal point in the debate surrounding right-wing politics in modern Germany.
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