Alexander Eichwald: The AfD man with the Hitler sound apparently wants to talk – for money

Er has achieved some fame. Alexander Eichwald, a young man from Herford in North Rhine-Westphalia, appeared at the founding meeting of the AfD’s new youth organization with an evil look, a rolling R and a wagging index finger. He received at least 12.28 percent of the vote for his application speech to the “Parrrrteiigenossen,” in which he called for “to protect German culture from foreign influences” and in which he compared people of different origins to cows and pigs.

A pretty perfidious satirical reaction – if it was one. Doubts about this are growing. Eichwald is now apparently sending emails, including to the SZ.

Apparently Eichwald is trying to make money from his story. An article appeared in the at the weekend Timewhich detailed how a newspaper reporter tried to find the “man in the storm of headlines.” He remained missing while many people in the country wondered whether what he had presented was a parody – which would be embarrassing for the AfD. Or the involuntary self-parody of a man who apparently had reason to believe that he would be elected to the board of the AfD Youth with the good old Hitler sound – which would be even more embarrassing for the AfD. He himself said at the event that the performance was meant seriously.

If editorial teams paid for interviews, they would quickly go bankrupt and dependencies would arise

But what little there was to know about this Alexander Eichwald was quickly spread around in the old and new media: the stage name Alex Oak, under which he had occasionally published music, the internship at the equal opportunities office of the city of Enger six years ago, a job with a personnel service provider in Bielefeld. So what does all this mean?

Die Time wanted to know more. She wanted to find Eichwald. The reporter described in detail everything he tried, such as how he called telephone books and the man’s entire high school year, “109 names on the list, 109 contact attempts,” all in vain. At the end of the search there was an email address. And an answer from Eichwald: He wanted to express himself, “primarily through a TV interview, before I devote myself to the classic medium of the newspaper,” but “assuming another publisher doesn’t make me a better financial offer.” Then she went Timenot surprisingly, not one. If editors were to pay for interviews, firstly they would quickly go bankrupt, and secondly, this would create dependencies – journalists would be for sale. Alexander Eichwald seemed to assume this. Would someone who has infiltrated the AfD as a satirist act and argue in this way?

But Eichwald seems to keep trying. Still on Saturday, a few hours after the publication Time-Article, there was suddenly a response to an inquiry from the SZ, which had been sent to an email address that most likely belonged to Eichwald. The sender wanted to know what the payment was like and whether he should say what he wanted to hear. Plus a wink smiley.

When asked what he thought the SZ wanted to hear, he replied: Negative things about the AfD – he was ready for that. After the appearance, the party tried to distance itself from him as clearly as possible, and his expulsion was immediately announced. Internally, reported the SpiegelEichwald is called the “Hitler clown”. Possibly reason enough to take revenge on the party. Or is this all still part of a satirical project? But what kind of satirical project was that supposed to be?

As the SZ learned, the AfD in Herford spoke to Eichwald after the appearance. He was urged not to comment publicly. It doesn’t sound like you’re assuming you’re dealing with someone who has infiltrated the party and who would at best laugh if you suggested something like that to him. He just doesn’t stick to it. The country is talking about him. Now, it seems, he wants to take control of how his story continues.

But only for money. When the SZ did not respond to the request, further emails remained unanswered.