Right-wing extremists in Germany are driven by youthful aggression more than by a particular program or ideology, according to a new report.
The hate crimes and attacks against foreigners in Germany are committed mostly by young thugs with unresolved personal problems, the study says.
The report, which was written by government officials in the German state of Brandenburg, concludes that most of the perpetrators of hate crimes do not want to overthrow the current government and should not be treated as political criminals.
Instead, they are motivated by an amorphous hate of foreigners and an intolerance of all lifestyles different than their own, the report says.
Contrary to popular belief, few of the extremists are unemployed, according to the report, which says the vast majority are either high school students, apprentices, army recruits or employed workers.
But their overall level of education is low, and most of the employed work as tradesmen.
The report was based on material collected from all 16 German states.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
