" 'Ne Art Burgerwehr in Form von Skins": Young Germans on the Streets in the Eastern and Western States of the Federal Republic

Abstract

Ausliinderfeindlichkeit [xenophobia], groups of young men sporting Nazi symbols and looking for action, and incidents of violence against foreigners were never completely absent from the social landscape of the two postwar Germanies.1 Right-wing extremist groups were reorganizing in West Berlin in the 1950s. The 1960s were marked by a wave of right-wing incidents in the Federal Republic, ranging from painting Nazi symbols and slogans to violent attacks. The first mention of skinheads came from the English football hooligan scene in 1968.2 Right-wing terrorist activity increased, and several new right-wing groups emerged in the 1970s.3 In the same years, the peaceful coexistence of Germans and their foreign workers ended with the Zuzugsperre [blocking of immigration] of April 1, 1975 which stopped the