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The parliamentary group of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Brandenburg state parliament has incorporated prominent figures from the German Empire and the Weimar Republic into its public outreach, setting up life-sized cardboard cut-outs of historical statesmen alongside the party's contemporary leadership.
The promotional display stands, designed for use at public gatherings and political events throughout the eastern German state, feature a combination of modern party figures and controversial historical personalities. Standing alongside AfD national co-chairpersons Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are full-length representations of Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Reich President Paul von Hindenburg, and Emperor Wilhelm II.
This visual campaigning approach brings together key architects of Germany’s 19th and early 20th-century history with the present-day leaders of the right-wing party. By placing current federal chairpersons in the immediate company of imperial and interwar figures, the Brandenburg parliamentary caucus has placed historical symbolism at the center of its event presentation.
Among the historical figures depicted on the display stands, the presence of Paul von Hindenburg has generated particular scrutiny due to his critical and deeply debated role in the collapse of German democracy. Hindenburg, who lived from 1847 to 1934, served as the second president of the German Reich during the tumultuous years of the Weimar Republic.
In mainstream historical evaluations, Hindenburg is widely remembered as the key figure who enabled the rise of Adolf Hitler. In January 1933, the aging Reich president officially appointed Hitler as Reich chancellor, a fateful constitutional decision that effectively dismantled the democratic republic and paved the path for the Nazi dictatorship.
Responding to questions regarding the inclusion of the controversial president, Hans-Christoph Berndt, the leader of the AfD parliamentary group in the Brandenburg state parliament, firmly rejected criticism of the displays and warned against what he characterized as an improper demonization of major historical leaders.
Berndt offered a positive assessment of Hindenburg’s tenure during the interwar era, describing him as a crucial stabilizing force in a fragile political landscape. The AfD caucus leader pointed out that Hindenburg was, after all, the only freely elected president of the German Reich, further asserting that he contributed substantially to the stabilization of Germany during the 1920s.
Addressing the broader intent behind the life-sized installations, Berndt maintained that the display stands were created to serve as an engaging and accessible feature for attendees rather than an expression of political veneration. He explained that the cut-outs were set up with a touch of humor to give visitors an opportunity to take photographs with the figures, emphasizing that the initiative is not intended to be an act of hero worship.
In addition to Hindenburg, the parliamentary group’s display features Otto von Bismarck, who lived from 1815 to 1898 and remains one of the defining figures of 19th-century European statecraft. Bismarck was the principal driving force behind the unification of the German states and the founding of the German Empire in 1871, and he earned widespread historical recognition for establishing the country's early social insurance systems.
At the same time, Bismarck’s legacy is marked by significant domestic conflict and political repression. During his long tenure as chancellor, he led aggressive campaigns against the Catholic Church through the state conflict known as the Kulturkampf, and he enacted sweeping anti-socialist legislation that officially banned the Social Democratic Party from political activity.
The third historical figure included in the caucus's display stands is Emperor Wilhelm II, the final monarch of the Hohenzollern dynasty who ruled the German Empire until the end of World War I. Wilhelm II, who lived from 1859 to 1941, pursued a confrontational imperial foreign policy and is widely recognized by historians for his significant contribution to the outbreak of the First World War.
By presenting these three historical rulers alongside Weidel and Chrupalla, the Brandenburg AfD faction has established a visible link between modern party figures and the legacy of the German Empire. The cardboard installations allow event participants to pose alongside both modern national party leadership and the statesmen who governed Germany across the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The appearance of these historical campaign displays occurs amid ongoing institutional scrutiny of the AfD's regional organization. The Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution has formally classified the state branch of the party as a far-right extremist organization, citing concerns regarding its political trajectory.
The Alternative for Germany has strongly rejected the domestic intelligence agency's assessment and is actively contesting the far-right extremist classification through the legal system. As the party pursues its court appeal against the designation, the Brandenburg caucus continues to use its controversial cardboard figures to draw attention at public events across the state.
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