Students using Nazi-themed slogans are sparking outrage at a German high school. Students at a school in Giessen, Germany, suggested offensive Nazi-related phrases as their graduation motto, triggering national outrage and a police investigation. Phrases like “Abi macht frei” were anonymously submitted in a class poll, prompting swift condemnation from school officials. The “Abi” is students’ award for finishing secondary school, making the phrase “Abi makes one free” a play on the Nazi concentration camp slogan, “Work makes one free.” The incident comes amid a rise in far-right extremism among German youth, including Hitler salutes and antisemitic acts at other schools. Experts say these provocations reflect a growing normalization of hate and ignorance in the country, and they’re urging stronger action—from mandatory concentration camp visits to stricter legal consequences. (DW)
