Secret Documents Reveal Pact Between FPÖ Youth and Identitarians, Indicating Far-Right Ties

Secret documents have exposed a close relationship between the youth wing of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ-Jugend) and the right-wing extremist Identitarian movement.

The FPÖ-Jugend allegedly utilizes the Identitarian group 'Aktion 451,' described as a camouflage organization, as a cadre-training facility. Reports indicate that controversial activities, including the measurement of 'Aryan bones,' have taken place within this group. Whistleblowers have come forward with information, while the FPÖ-Jugend has reacted with indignation.

Under the leadership of FPÖ chief Herbert Kickl, a strong bond between the Identitarians and the FPÖ is evident. Internal chat messages obtained by DER STANDARD illustrate the extent of this connection. In July 2024, Jan Staudigl, the Vienna regional youth secretary for FPÖ-Jugend, instructed members in an internal chat group: "Please do not wear FPÖ clothing." He added, "Explanation if needed on site." This instruction was given for an event: the summer demonstration of the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement (IB).

Despite such directives to conceal their affiliation, the close ties are undeniable. The documents and communications suggest that the FPÖ and its youth organizations, including FPÖ-Jugend (formerly RFJ), are deeply intertwined with the Identitarian group, which is monitored by the Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The article includes a photograph showing several individuals linked to both the FPÖ-Jugend and the Identitarian movement, including former Identitarian spokesperson Yannick Wagemann and FPÖ-Jugend leader Maximilian Weinzierl.

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"Please do not wear FPÖ clothing," wrote Jan Staudigl, Wiener Landesjugendsekretär der Freiheitlichen Jugend (FJ) in July 2024 in an internal chat group. "Explanation if needed on site."