East German states face mounting debates over civic education and political pressure

Teachers and officials across eastern German states are raising concerns over political pressure and rising far-right sentiment ahead of upcoming regional elections. Educators in several schools report an increase in extremist symbols and anti-democratic behavior among students, prompting Thuringia's education ministry to partner with the University of Jena to send "constitutional coaches" into classrooms. Concurrently, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for SED dictatorship victims, called for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites to deepen historical knowledge about the communist era.

Meanwhile, cultural policy has become a key flashpoint. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) proposed defunding projects deemed "anti-German," sparking concern among administrators of Holocaust memorials, local theaters, and Bauhaus heritage sites. The measures come as broader debates over East German regional identity intensify ahead of state polls.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau.