Jewish Family Protests AfD’s Use of Simson Mopeds in Germany
A controversy has erupted in Germany after members of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) prominently used vintage Simson mopeds at party events, prompting protests from descendants of the Jewish family that founded the company.
Simson was established in the 19th century in Suhl by Jewish brothers. Under the Nazi regime, the family was forced to relinquish ownership of the company as part of the systematic “Aryanisation” of Jewish businesses. After World War II, the brand continued in East Germany as a state-owned manufacturer and later became known for its widely used mopeds, which still enjoy cult status in parts of the country.
According to reporting by The Guardian, AfD politicians, including prominent regional figures, have used Simson mopeds during campaign appearances, turning them into symbolic props associated with regional identity and nostalgia for East Germany. The descendants of the original Jewish owners have publicly objected, describing the political appropriation of the brand as inappropriate given the family’s history of persecution and dispossession.
The AfD has defended the use of the mopeds as a reference to regional culture rather than history. Critics argue, however, that invoking a brand with a history of forced expropriation under Nazism carries particular sensitivity in Germany, where the legacy of antisemitism remains a central element of public memory and debate.
Source:
‘An insult to our name’: AfD urged to stop using Simson mopeds at events | Germany | The Guardian