Far-right group that invokes Nazi past on the verge of state election success in Germany

Set up in April 2013 as a movement against the euro currency, the AfD shifted its focus to Islam and immigration and has grown in popularity at both local and national levels ever since, particularly in the former East Germany, the former communist half of the country which had strong ties to the then-Soviet Union; polling has shown there is more skepticism about NATO and Germany’s support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. In June’s European Parliament elections, the party finished second in Germany, despite a series of scandals...