AfD's Bauhaus Attacks Spark Defense as Saxony-Anhalt Election Looms
Ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has condemned the Bauhaus school of design, labeling it an 'aberration of modernism.' In their campaign, they aim to replace the state's motto 'Think Modern' with 'Think German.' Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, the AfD's cultural policy spokesperson, argued that Bauhaus disregards human needs, while lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund softened the party's stance, asserting that German culture extends beyond Bauhaus. Should they win, the AfD might reduce state funding for the institution. Culture minister Wolfram Weimer pledged to protect Bauhaus, connecting the party's rhetoric to Nazi-era attacks. Established in 1919 by Walter Gropius, Bauhaus has significantly shaped global design.
Key facts
- AfD has called Bauhaus an 'aberration of modernism'.
- Election in Saxony-Anhalt could see far-right party take control of a German state for the first time since WWII.
- AfD election program includes slogan 'Think German' to replace 'Think Modern'.
- AfD cultural policy spokesperson Hans-Thomas Tillschneider claimed Bauhaus 'violated the human need for security and comfort'.
- Lead AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund said Bauhaus itself wasn't a problem but 'we are much, much more than just the Bauhaus'.
- German culture minister Wolfram Weimer vowed to defend Bauhaus and continue national funding for the Bauhaus Foundation.
- Bauhaus was founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius and others in Weimar, later moved to Dessau.
- Bauhaus Dessau Foundation director Barbara Steiner said up to 150,000 visitors come to Dessau annually.
- A pro-Bauhaus manifesto initiated by Weimer has been signed by over 2,500 groups and individuals.
- The election is on Sunday.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Alternative for Germany (AfD)
- Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
- Bauhaus Archive
- The Associated Press
- Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
- Bauhaus
- Landeszentrale für politische Bildung
Locations
- Dessau
- Germany
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Weimar
- Berlin
- Moeser
- Chicago
- Tel Aviv