German police were forced into a full-scale street confrontation after tens of thousands of protesters attempted to block and overwhelm an AfD youth conference in Giessen on November 29, 2025. Authorities estimate that 25,000 to 30,000 demonstrators, including organized Antifa groups, unions, church networks, and left-wing activists, converged on the city with the stated goal of shutting down the event entirely.

As the crowd surged toward police lines, agitators began throwing stones, pushing through barricades, and attempting to break into the perimeter of the venue. Officers responded with water cannons, pepper spray, and riot-control formations, repelling multiple coordinated attempts to breach security. Local officials confirmed that several officers were injured during the violent clashes as law enforcement fought to stabilize the area.

The conference marked the launch of the AfD’s new youth wing, Generation Deutschland, created after its previous youth organization was dissolved in 2023 following official accusations of right-wing extremism. Delegates overwhelmingly elected Jean-Pascal Hohm to lead the new movement, signaling a firm return to the AfD’s hard-line platform on national sovereignty, cultural identity, and border enforcement. Hohm’s emphasis on strict migration controls immediately drew intense opposition from political and activist groups across the left.

Despite the scale of the unrest, police succeeded in ensuring the conference proceeded as planned, underscoring both the volatility of Germany’s political climate and the growing mobilization of forces seeking to silence the AfD through disruption rather than democratic debate. The Giessen clashes stand as one of the largest confrontations between German authorities and left-wing demonstrators in recent years, highlighting the deepening divisions over migration, national security, and the future direction of the country.