Brilliant Ads Help Explain the Rise of AfD in Germany

February 22, 2018

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7:48 am

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One recent poll placed AfD in second place in German politics as support for SPD is at record lows. Alexander, a German reader sent in some ads with english translations.

The feature images translates as “Traditional? We like it that way!Trust Yourself Germany.“

Alexander writes:

Mish,

Here are some typical Afd posters. They illustrate the brilliant marketing of the AfD.

I stand by my observation that the AfD leadership is composed of misfits and cranks. However, their marketing people were sophisticated and successfully positioned the AfD as a party of stability. The legitimate parties failed completely in their attempt to brand the AfD as radical bomb throwers.

Note, in German political campaigns, these posters are everywhere. The AfD posters were changed relatively often with definite marketing strategy determine the change and timing in each poster.

Alex

Comments beneath each image are from Alex.

Franz Josef Strauß would vote AfD

These posters appeared in Bavaria a week before the Election. “Franz Josef Strauß would vote AfD”. Franz Josef Strauß was the epic CSU party leader of the 1960-80s. He is revered by all Bavarians. This would be equivalent to the US Democrats saying “Ronald Reagan would vote for Hillary”. Preposterous? Not if the mental groundwork was laid during the campaign that the AfD is the party of stability and prosperity.

Targeting the Gay Vote

“My Partner and I do not value acquaintances with Muslim Immigrants who say our love is a death sentence”

Rainbow of Diversity

“Rainbow of Diversity ? We already have it.” These are folk costumes of various Southern German regions

I Vote AfD

“I vote Afd because I know what Islam can mean if we do not watch out. My German friends please let us protect our home, Berlin”

It’s subtlety suggested that the hipster photo quoted is a muslim Turk.

Burka?

“Burka ? I think a Burgundy is more my style.”

Sophie Scholl

“Sophie Scholl would vote Afd” There were versions of this with a photo of Sophie and a powerful quote.

Mish Comments

Sophie Scholl was an anti-Nazi political activist within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany.

She was convicted of treason for distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich along with her brother Hans. Both were executed by guillotine. Since the 1970s, Scholl has been extensively commemorated for her anti-Nazi resistance work.

I am not from Germany, but this seems like a powerful campaign tactic given that AfD is accused of neo-Nazi ties.

Mike “Mish” Shedlock

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Herkie

4 years ago

“However, their marketing people were sophisticated and successfully positioned the AfD as a party of stability. “

Yet another similarity to the Nazis. Any German political party that advertises it’s fear and loathing of a religious group (Jews; Muslims) is one to keep a very close eye on. I mean it is in fact difficult to to go after the AfD about that, because frankly I think the vast majority of us do see the Muslim immigrants as somewhat scary and having little to no interest in assimilation the way my Irish father did when he immigrated to the States. But, like or mistrust Muslims or not, genocide is not the answer, and we have historic fact when it comes to German far right political parties peddling fear of a minority. And, I almost laughed when I saw the ad exploiting the gay men as supporting the AfD though no doubt some do, but I would warn them that once the Muslims are gotten rid of who do they think the far right will come for next?

evaundadam

4 years ago

You forgott their newest campaign against the “global climate scam” with it’s devastating policies : link to afd.de (Save the environment, Stopp the Greens!)

So, what is the secret of a “clever political advertisment!” Well, there is some truth in it…

ahengshp58

6 years ago

semoga artikel yang anda post menjadi prioritas pembaca artikel sangat bagus dan mantap kunjungi juga website di bawah ini

ahengshp58

6 years ago

link to pasutri-makassar.com

MissionAccomplished

6 years ago

No sense at all? Sounds like something that famous coincidence theorist Occam would say.

MissionAccomplished

6 years ago

How about “Selbstmord? Nicht für uns!”

pyrrhus

6 years ago

Allowing large numbers of welfare seeking 3d world men into a Western country has caused massive numbers of attacks on women, in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere. It was and is madness…

mpowerOR

6 years ago

the change that most in DE (nee EU) want is a heavy dose of nationalism & introspection, not multicultural globalism – AfD is promising exactly what people are asking for… boomer-led mainstream politics is dead… the boomer gen. & their tired agenda is being rudely rejected worldwide… it’s all quite simple & obvious… the turning is tribal & generational.

aqualech

6 years ago

I wish them the best of luck. This is perfectly understandable backlash against some policies that make no sense at all.

Bernie

6 years ago

As an Belgian who lives close to the german border I follow vey carefully what’s going on in Germany. But even as the success of the Afd is a very good new following my opinion, I don’t hope it will really change things as deep it has to be. Consider the success of the Fn in France and how it has served the success of Macron, an quite unknown Rothschild ex employee, pretty desperate case of globalist scum. There’s a lot of work yet to do before a real political change.

RonJ

6 years ago

Is it brilliant ads, or are people fed up? We almost had effectively, 2 third party candidates running against each other in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Mike6712

6 years ago

HOWEVER, tell me why the Gay and Burka ads are wrong, because if you ask me, they are dead on correct.

Mike6712

6 years ago

I dismiss any ad that says a person who has been dead for decades would vote a certain way. After reading a paper or viewing a debate I may be persuaded, but not from a one sentence ad.

whirlaway

6 years ago

Neoconservatism has created the refugee crisis. And neoliberalism is threatening people’s economic well-being (in Europe; in the US the people started getting screwed a long time ago). The only thing the so-called left has that will not anger their corporate masters is social issues like marriage, gender politics, political correctness and in the US, abortion. Other than that both the “left” and the right are both actually right-wing and both are neoconservative as well. The result is people either go for left-wing populists like Sanders and Corbyn or right-wing populists like Trump and AfD etc. The future is populism of one kind or the other. Take your pick!

caradoc-again

6 years ago

No vision, none are painting future vistas of improved conditions for ordinary indigenous people. Same old, same old. Boredom sets in, change is demanded. The German in particular are some of the most financially repressed in the EU even though the most economically successful. The questions begin to be asked as the population wakes up. No political party has the answer so people look to one that is new that can’t be blamed for the current feelings even though the new will be no better.

SweetKenny

6 years ago

People don’t change, just their stories.

killben

6 years ago

While good marketing is needed (and this is smart work indeed) it is not sufficient. As brainy says people are fed up with the existing bunch of crooks oh sorry politicians and if given a chance will get rid of them pronto. Trump is an example. His only qualification was he was anti-establishment. We might go from frying pan to fire (by picking a wrong guy) but then anything might be better than the career politicians (ALL OVER THE WORLD) that we are saddled with presently. I am all for getting rid of the entire bunch. Will we get a better set is a difficult question to answer but then we have to start somewhere.

brainy

6 years ago

(I am from Germany)
I think this whole “power” of the AFD is misunderstood by most.
The success of the AfD is not really “theirs” — in the end – they are the same kind of idiots – as the established parties – get them into power – and nothing would change.

The MAIN point of the rise of the AfD is actually:
People are fed up with the existing politicians – esp. this leftist crap about gender-policy, no-muslim/immigrant-criticism/political-correctness etc. – leftist crap.
(or more correctly: cultural-marxist ideas)
So more generally – the AfD is just an easy-to-access destination for those who run away from the leftist ideas.
And the ads – if you see – are targeting exactly just the cultural-marxism points.

but intellectually – all the AfD-personell – is just as stupid/lazy/greedy/corrupt – as every other politician … so yeah – funny to observe – but I’m not really expecting usefull change …

caradoc-again

6 years ago

back off Macron support vs German status quo stance.

caradoc-again

6 years ago

they will back off Made on support vs German status quo. Nothing will change.

caradoc-again

6 years ago

The AfD will be same old same old unless they show they wil.

Yancey_Ward

6 years ago

The SpD is sewing the seeds of its destruction by entering into these coalitions with Merkel. The voters of the SpD didn’t go to the polls to reelect Merkel- they voted to be in opposition to Merkel.

Brilliant Ads Help Explain the Rise of AfD in Germany

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