“Dark Past Returns” is a striking and unsettling special documentary that examines the rise of far-right ideologies in contemporary Germany. While exploring the dynamics behind this extremist movement and its growing influence on today’s political landscape, the film exposes how Germany’s Nazi past continues to cast a dark shadow over the country.

Niklas Frank, the son of Hans Frank, who served as Governor-General of Nazi-occupied Poland, offers a stark assessment in the documentary:

“We have a population of around 82 million, and in my view only about one million are truly democratic. A large portion of the rest would be ready to live under another dictatorship.”

These words sharply reveal the enduring impact of the far right in Germany, especially in light of the rise of the AfD. Through Frank’s testimony, the viewer gains a close look at the scale of the country’s ideological shift.

The film also exposes the AfD’s dangerous vision and the threat it poses to German democracy. Journalist James Jacksonwarns, “The AfD is the voice of Pegida. Islamophobia lies at the heart of its rhetoric,” drawing attention to the party’s divisive language. At a time of growing fear around migration, the documentary issues a serious warning about the AfD’s potential rise to power. Niklas Frank expresses his deep concern with these words:

“If the AfD comes to power, I have no doubt that they will expel as many migrants from the country as they possibly can.”

The documentary also places the contradictions within the AfD under scrutiny. Despite the party program explicitly stating that “Islam does not belong to Germany,” AfD member of the German Federal Parliament Stefan Keuter, in an exclusive interview for the film, claims that “the AfD has many things in common with Muslims.” He even describes Björn Höcke, one of the party’s most prominent figures known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, as one of its best politicians. At this point, the central question becomes unavoidable: Which face of the AfD is real?

With blunt statements such as “The AfD has no economic model… they spread lies and divide society,” the documentary reveals how the far right in Germany builds its politics on fear and polarization. “Dark Past Returns” stands as a powerful and cautionary record for anyone seeking to understand how a dark past continues to shape Germany’s future.