The descendants of the Jewish founders of a prominent German motorcycle firm have called on the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party to stop using its bikes at their rallies.
Simson was founded by brothers Löb and Moses Simson in 1856, ultimately becoming a moped producer, but when the family was forced to flee Germany in 1936, they had to sell the company for substantially less than market value.
The bikes gained greater popularity during Communist rule in East Germany after imports of Western vehicles were banned.
The company closed in 2003, but its second-hand mopeds are still popular and are often seen in promotional videos and posters put out by the AfD.
AfD organiser Björn Höcke, who is often seen riding one of the company’s bikes, said that the “Simson outings” help promote camaraderie among party members, according to the Guardian.
He has also suggested that it is a better option than the cargo bike, often viewed as synonymous with Germany’s Green party supporters.
A spokesperson for the Simson family told German media: “We find any connection with the AfD repulsive and an insult to our name.”
Dennis Baum, one of the descendants of the founders, told news agency DPA: “My family and I firmly reject extremist ideologies and will not accept the AfD’s appropriation of our name.”
He said that the family was offended that the family name has become appropriated with the "overwhelmingly extremist” party and added: “The name must not under any circumstances become a symbol of the AfD."
Höcke responded to the family’s condemnation in a statement to Diesachsen, calling it "disconcerting".
He said: "Interpreting the use of everyday objects as 'appropriation' replaces arguments with symbolic hysteria.
"This is precisely where the 'never again!' should apply: no collective attribution, no suspicion of a certain mindset, no political hereditary guilt."
"Since the Second World War, the phrase "never again" has mostly been used in connection with ‘never again fascism’ or ‘never again war’.”
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