AfD turns an East German icon into an election campaign symbol

A well-known element of the former East Germany’s heritage is now being used in the political battle.

Classic Simson scooters, which once represented the freedom of young people in East Germany, have become part of the campaign of the radical-right AfD party. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s leading candidate and favorite in Sunday’s election in Saxony-Anhalt, has often been seen riding these vehicles. He has even led parades attended by hundreds of Simson owners.

Through this approach, the party aims to exploit “Ostalgia”, or nostalgia for life in the former German Democratic Republic, as well as the continuing dissatisfaction in some eastern regions over the consequences of German reunification.

However, the family behind the Simson brand has opposed this political use. Dennis Baum, a descendant of the company’s founders who lives in New York, said his family strongly rejects the politicization of the name. “We do not want the Simson name to be politicized,” he said, stressing that the family does not support extremist ideologies and does not accept the AfD appropriating the brand.

The company’s past makes this confrontation particularly sensitive. Simson was established in the 19th century in Suhl, Thuringia, by Jewish brothers Loeb and Moses Simpson. In its early years, the company produced weapons, bicycles and luxury vehicles.

When Hitler came to power, the Simson family became the target of an antisemitic campaign. Its members were persecuted and imprisoned, while the Gestapo forced them to hand over the company before the family left for the United States. After the end of World War II, the factory came under Soviet administration and was later turned into a state-owned East German enterprise, retaining the Simson name.

Even today, these motorbikes enjoy particular popularity in eastern Germany. Models registered before 1992 can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, a higher limit than that of most scooters in the same category.

The AfD’s use of the Simson name has forced the family to confront once again a painful chapter of its history, one it had considered part of the past.