Descendants of the Jewish Simson family, creators of the iconic East German moped brand, have sharply criticized the AfD party. The family, forced to flee Germany by the Nazis in 1936, described attempts to use their name in a political campaign as abhorrent and offensive. Dennis Baum, spokesperson for the family now living in the United States, condemned right-wing extremism.

Protest by Simson family heirs

Descendants of the founders of the Simson factory in Suhl oppose the use of their brand in the AfD campaign, calling it a disgrace to the name.

Historical background of expropriation

In 1936, the Jewish Simson family was forced by the Nazis to flee Germany to the USA, losing all their assets.

Political instrumentalization of a cult

Björn Höcke of the Thuringian AfD promotes the brand as a symbol of East German identity, which the family considers an abuse.

Descendants of the founders of the legendary moped brand Simson have expressed firm opposition to attempts by politicians of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) to appropriate their family heritage. Dennis Baum, acting as spokesperson for the family permanently residing in the USA, told the dpa agency that associating their name with a party considered extremist is a profound insult to them. The situation gained attention after the AfD leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, began publicly using the iconic vehicles to build his political image. Family representatives emphasize that their ancestors fell victim to persecution by nationalists, making the current activities of the AfD particularly painful. Simson is for many residents of the former GDR a symbol of childhood and youth, but the heirs remind of the dark circumstances behind the loss of the factory. The family opposes the instrumentalization of the brand Schwalbe or S51 for propaganda purposes. Dennis Baum noted that the family categorically dissociates itself from all ideologies based on intolerance and exclusion. The family enterprise Simson was founded in 1856 in Suhl by brothers Löb and Moses Simson. In 1936, as part of Hitler's Aryanization policy, the Jewish owners were expropriated, and the factory came under state control, shifting production to armaments. The dispute over the Simson brand heritage fits into a broader debate about historical responsibility and the limits of political marketing in Germany. The AfD party in Thuringia is classified by the local Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a right-wing extremist group. The heirs declare they will not allow the Simson name to become a symbol of hatred, reminding that their family tragedy began with rhetoric similar to that used by contemporary radical right-wing movements. „My family and I firmly reject extremist ideologies and feel offended by being mentioned in the same context as the AfD.” — Dennis Baum 1936 — the year the Simson family was expelled from Germany by the Nazis Image experts point out that using symbols associated with nostalgia for GDR times is a constant element of AfD's strategy in the eastern part of the country. However, in this case, the emotional weight of the founders' Jewish origin poses a serious image burden for the party, especially in light of accusations of antisemitism and downplaying Third Reich crimes by some activists of this formation.

Mentioned People

  • Dennis Baum — Spokesperson for the Simson family living in the United States, acting on behalf of the brand's heirs.
  • Björn Höcke — Chairman of AfD structures in Thuringia, known for radical views and utilization of Simson symbolism.