East German cult moped: Simson: Descendants of the founding household defend themselves in opposition to the AfD | EUROtoday

The descendants of the Jewish Simson household from Thuringia are resisting the AfD’s appropriation of the moped model of the identical identify. “We find any connection with the AfD repugnant and an insult to our name,” mentioned Dennis Baum, spokesman for the household now dwelling within the USA, to the German Press Agency. “My family and I firmly reject extremist ideologies and do not want to accept the AfD’s appropriation of our name.”

The Simson model mopeds produced in Suhl throughout the GDR period, such because the Schwalbe or the S51, are cult for a lot of fans. AfD politicians just like the Thuringian state chief Björn Höcke use it as a political image. In a number of East German state parliaments, the AfD pushed for the Samson to be protected as intangible cultural heritage. It stands “for freedom, independence and individuality,” mentioned an AfD software in Brandenburg.

Baum mentioned the household discovered it insulting to be talked about in reference to a celebration that was “overwhelmingly extremist.” The identify Simson ought to on no account grow to be a logo of the AfD.

Expelled by the National Socialists

The Jewish household was expelled from Germany by the National Socialists in 1936 and fled to the USA. Baum emphasised that an important tragedy had been skilled, which was primarily characterised by intolerance in direction of the Jewish inhabitants. “That’s why we see the AfD’s use of our name as a mockery of our history.”

The manufacturing facility in Thuringia was based by the brothers Moses and Loeb Simson and had established itself as a weapons producer. At the identical time, the corporate devoted itself to automobile development and developed, amongst different issues, the Simson Supra racing automobile. During the Nazi period, the household was compelled to promote. During the GDR period, the manufacturing facility turned a state-owned firm and initially produced mopeds on behalf of the Soviet army administration.