EXIT-Germany | We Provide Ways Out Of Extremism
EXIT-Germany is an initiative to help anyone who wants to break with right-wing-extremism and to start a new life.
EXIT-Germany is an initiative that provides assistance to individuals who want to leave the extreme right-wing movement and start a new life. Founded by criminologist and former police detective Bernd Wagner and former neo-Nazi leader Ingo Hasselbach, EXIT-Germany has been active since summer 2000 in supporting those who wish to disengage from extreme and violent right-wing environments.
About EXIT-Germany
Being the first organization in Germany to start such an endeavor, EXIT-Germany is one of the most experienced and successful programs for de-radicalization and exit assistance. Founded by Bernd Wagner in 1989, who was the first to start working in this field. Since then, EXIT-Germany has been continuously working to help individuals from all backgrounds, but mainly those from highly radicalized milieus such as group leaders, terrorists, and party leaders, to leave the movement and to develop effective methods and programs in this field. As of 2022, EXIT-Germany has successfully assisted over 800 individuals, with a recidivism rate of approximately 3%.
The success of EXIT-Germany has been acknowledged by several institutions and authorities, most recently the German government and the European Commission/European Social Fund. A comparative study by the German government between EXIT-Germany and the de-radicalization program of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (German Internal Intelligence Service), which are the only two projects working nationwide, found that EXIT-Germany achieved a far better success rate (lower recidivism) and an almost four times higher overall number of received and handled cases. In recognition of EXIT-Germany’s work, the initiative has received several awards, such as the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Award 2013 and the Politik Award 2012.
Book
Bernd Wagner (2015): Right-wing radicalism – Young right-wing radicals in criminal proceedings – Possebilities and limitations of de-radicalisation. Berlin. edition widerschein More
Our latest example of a counter narrative
Articles about Exit
The The New York Times on current developments in Germany, EXIT-Deutschland and the way of the co founder of exit, Ingo Hasselbach. Read more
When Neo-Nazis Have Doubts, There’s a Way Out Read more
How To Leave the Neo-Nazis in Two Easy Lessons — and One Hard One
Formers about exit. Read more
Find more detailed information on our work below:
Flyer EXIT-Germany | We Provide Ways Out Of Extremism Download.pdfhttps://www.exit-deutschland.de/Datei-Download/1/Flyer-EXIT_engl.pdf
Booklet EXIT-Deutschland | We Provide Ways Out Of Extremism Download.pdf
F. Wichmann, A. Ritzmann (2021): Reporting about Violent Extremism and P/CVE Challenges for Journalists – Recommendations from Practitioners. Radicalisation Awareness Network
- 2020 First-Line-Practitioners Evaluation of practices in the field of violent extremism, terrorism and organized crime response that has been conducted by the partners of the EU-project TAKEDOWN / Evaluation of Exit-Germany
- American Counterterrorism Targeting & Resilience Institute (2020) Perspective on Counternarratives: Successes, Missing Links, and Opportunities
- Review of Programs to Counter Narratives of Violent Extremism: What Works and What are the Implications for Government? Download.pdf
- Old Threat, New Approach: Tackling the Far Right Across Europe Download.pdf
- Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community-Policing Approach. Published by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Vienna, February 2014. OSCE 2014 Download.pdf
- On the Front Line A guide to countering far-right extremism
Download.pdf
Contact
EXIT-Germany
post office box 76 01 12 – 13162 Berlin
Fax / Voicebox: (+49) 3212 – 174 58 90
Mobil: (+49) 30 23489328
E-mail: info[at]exit-deutschland.de