Over 2,200 Anti-Semitic Crimes in Germany in 2025

Police statistics for 2025 in Germany reveal a concerning and clear increase in anti-Semitic crimes. The number of registered offenses was 2,267, representing a 13.4 percent increase compared to the previous year (2,000 cases) and a 26 percent increase compared to 2023, when 1,800 such incidents were recorded. This data, published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, comes from police crime statistics (Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik) and was provided in response to a parliamentary inquiry. An analysis of crime types shows that over half of all reported cases were propaganda offenses (§86a, §130 StGB), such as the use of Nazi symbols. The second most numerous category was incitement to hatred (Volksverhetzung) (§130 StGB). Unfortunately, the statistics also recorded 194 cases of violent acts. Anti-Semitism in Germany has deep historical roots, and its contemporary manifestations pose a particularly painful problem for a country that, during the era of National Socialism, was the perpetrator of the systematic extermination of European Jews. Responsibility for remembering the Holocaust and combating contemporary forms of hatred against Jews is one of the foundations of post-war German identity. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser responded to these numbers with a firm statement, describing them as "shocking." She emphasized that hatred against Jews has no place in Germany. "We must decisively counteract this and strengthen our efforts in schools," the minister noted. Her appeal fits into a broader discussion about the role of the education system in combating prejudice. Federal and state authorities are considering introducing mandatory training for teachers to facilitate the recognition and proper response to anti-Semitic incidents among students, as well as improving procedures for reporting such cases.

Number of anti-Semitic crimes in Germany (PKS): 2023: 1800, 2024: 2000, 2025: 2267 In territorial terms, the most crimes were recorded in Bavaria (468), Berlin (406), and North Rhine-Westphalia (362). However, these statistics do not cover all manifestations of hostility, as many smaller-scale or poorly documented incidents do not make it into official records. Experts point out that the actual scale of the phenomenon may be even larger. The publication of this data coincided with growing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which often results in an increase in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, including in Germany. Politicians, Jewish organizations, and human rights defenders unanimously call for decisive steps to curb this dangerous trend and ensure the safety of Jewish citizens of Germany.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the long-term nature of the problem and call for systemic educational reforms and strengthening of remembrance culture. Conservative media more often point to a direct connection with migration and integration and call for harsher penalties and strengthened security policy.