Deutsche Heidnische Front (DHF orGerman Heathens' Front) was afar rightNeo-Nazi group created in 1998 as theGerman section of theHeathen Front. It was formed by avowedneo-NaziHendrik Möbus.[1] It has been inactive since 2005.[2]
The group was established in 1998 in an attempt to forge close links between the Pagan andfar rightnationalist scenes in Germany.[3] It was the German branch of theAllgermanische Heidnische Front, an internationalOdalist movement.[4] The group, which recruited widely in the skinhead and heavy metal scenes, set up groups across Germany, although its main area of activity wasThuringia.[3] Followers of Germany'sblack metal scene were the main target group for recruitment.[5]
In 2001 the group had a change of leadership and, alongside this, sought to publicly redefine its ideological stance. Although continuing to express nationalistic views and extol the virtues of theAryan race they used more moderate language and moved away from expressions of neo-Nazism.[3]
The group seeks to restore an ancient Germanic religion, although it breaks from those other pagan groups who do not include a strongvölkisch core to this. The members believe that their actions are driven byNorse mythology and as such it belongs to the same tradition as theVölkisch movements, theThule Society and elements within theNazi Party. Stronglyanti-Semitic, the DHF has been driven by theFourteen Words ofDavid Lane.[3]
The DHF structure is based around freely associatedGaue or districts. Within these districts celebrations are organized at traditional sites, particularly atsolstice time. A summer solstice festival held inKyffhäuserkreis in 2002 was mentioned in a report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as the site was used for similar festivities by theSS.[3] The group publishes a magazine,Tuisto, which deals with pagan, cultural and historical themes.