AfD in Dessau targets Bauhaus architecture, citing Trump as model

In Dessau, the Bauhaus architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is under political attack. The city's strongest political force, the far-right AfD, labels it an 'Irrweg der Moderne' (wrong path of modernity) and seeks to overturn its influence. The party's approach is reportedly inspired by Donald Trump's tactics. The Bauhaus Museum Dessau, a glass cube reflecting the city's life, houses historical objects and documents of early modernism. The museum's facade mirrors a diverse public: women in headscarves with children, a young man wearing a 'Kraft durch Freude' shirt (a Nazi-era slogan), and two students, Medha and Riddhi. The article, published in Der Freitag, explores whether the World Heritage site can withstand the rightward political shift. The AfD's campaign against Bauhaus architecture is part of a broader cultural battle, with the party seeking to redefine German cultural identity away from modernist principles. The outcome remains uncertain as the city grapples with political polarization.