![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/25/multimedia/25soccer-hungary-01-gjkc/25soccer-hungary-01-gjkc-thumbWide.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
Black Shirts and Banned Flags: Ultras Push Politics at Euro 2024
Hard-core fan groups, embracing a strong nationalistic streak, have provoked pushback from soccer’s authorities at the European Championship.
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
I am focused on stories about Germany’s multiple simultaneous transformations. Besides its vaunted green-energy transformation, the country is becoming more ethnically and culturally diverse. Politically, Germany is struggling to rebalance as war in Europe has shattered the steady period of growth under Angela Merkel. I also cover the rise of populism and the far right, which is especially concerning given Germany’s past.
Raised in Germany and Canada and trained in the U.S. and France, I’ve reported from a dozen countries, mostly in Europe. I got my start at The Times as an intern for the paper’s international edition in Paris (which was then called The International Herald Tribune), where I covered sustainability and higher education. Before moving to Berlin in 2018, I reported from the Netherlands, where I covered stories like the far-right populist Geert Wilders, Amsterdam’s red light district, nearly-legal cannabis and tulip auction houses. In Germany, I have covered breaking news, including crime and terrorist attacks, and I’ve explored bigger themes, such as climate-change adaptation, Germany’s military transformation and East Germany’s communist past.
All Times journalists are committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I strive to be accurate and fair in all of my reporting, even if that means pushing back on established narratives. Like all of my colleagues, I refuse gifts, favors, or money. I also refuse special treatment that might interfere with the fairness of my reporting. I identify myself as a reporter for The Times when speaking to sources.
Email: [email protected]
X: @cfschuetze
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips
Hard-core fan groups, embracing a strong nationalistic streak, have provoked pushback from soccer’s authorities at the European Championship.
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
Sweltering train cars, frequent delays and regular cancellations: At the Euro 2024 men’s soccer tournament, Germany’s faltering rail system emerges as a tough opponent.
By Rory Smith and Melissa Eddy
Björn Höcke has done more than take the far right into the mainstream. He is tilting the mainstream toward the far right.
By Erika Solomon
The shooting took place in Hamburg, in an area packed with soccer fans, and hours before the Netherlands and Poland were set to play in the city.
By Rory Smith, Lena Mucha and Christopher F. Schuetze
Europe’s climate change-minded parties performed poorly in the European Union elections. Is the once ambitious European green movement over, or could its electoral crash launch a rebirth?
By Matina Stevis-Gridneff
Julian Nagelsmann was hired to win a European Championship on home soil. Can he restore a divided nation’s self-esteem at the same time?
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his governing coalition emerged battered from the vote for the European Parliament. But a snap election seems unlikely.
By Christopher F. Schuetze and Sarah Maslin Nir
The AfD’s gains were a sharp rebuke to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition and a sign of the rightward political shift across the continent.
By Sarah Maslin Nir and Christopher F. Schuetze
The authorities said the attack did not appear to be targeted. But it came days after members of an anti-Islam group were stabbed in the same city, raising fears about violence before E.U. elections.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Several towns declared states of emergency and evacuated citizens as water submerged streets and highways and derailed a high-speed train.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The Alternative for Germany party remains strong, but a growing pushback at home and abroad may be blunting its surge.
By Sarah Maslin Nir and Christopher F. Schuetze
A police officer and an anti-Islamist activist were among the victims, according to the authorities, who have not released information on a motive.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
A festival of classic cars from the communist era brings out some nostalgia in eastern Germany for pre-unification days, although the abuses that occurred behind the Iron Curtain aren’t forgotten.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The exclusion is a sign that domestic troubles for the Alternative for Germany party are starting to spill into European Union politics before elections.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The recognition of Palestinian statehood by Spain, Ireland and Norway highlights the changing center of gravity, but there also are staunchly pro-Israel nations in Europe.
By Matina Stevis-Gridneff
Members of a group called the “United Patriots” are accused of planning to bring a prince into power by violently overthrowing the government.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The suspect in the shooting of the prime minister, Robert Fico, appeared before a judge, who ordered that he would remain in custody until he is charged and tried.
By Christopher F. Schuetze and Sara Cincurova
The celebration of French heritage in the run-up to the Paris Olympics was unveiled on the feast day of Saint Honoré, the patron saint of bakers.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Björn Höcke, a state leader of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party, used the phrase “Everything for Germany,” a slogan of the Nazi paramilitary wing, during a campaign stop.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Recent attacks came to a head on Friday when a victim was left with broken bones. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrats have been a target, denounced the attacks as a threat to democracy.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The Chinese leader has carefully chosen three countries — France, Serbia and Hungary — that to varying degrees embrace Beijing’s push for a new global order.
By Roger Cohen and Chris Buckley
Iranian forces seized the Portuguese-flagged ship, the MSC Aries, as tensions between Iran and Israel were rising.
By Leily Nikounazar and Christopher F. Schuetze
A lawsuit was also filed in a Berlin court, which said it expects the government not to license more arms exports until it issues a ruling.
By Erika Solomon and Christopher F. Schuetze
Three trials this spring are centered on the Reichsbürger movement. Some of its members say the modern German state is actually a corporation run by shadowy bureaucrats.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
A flurry of arrests this week reflect the continent’s newly toughened response to Beijing’s espionage activities and political meddling.
By Andrew Higgins and Christopher F. Schuetze
In a major speech, France’s president returned to a familiar theme, warning that “Our Europe is mortal” if it does not become more self-sufficient.
By Roger Cohen and Aurelien Breeden
The money from Washington, which includes $5 billion to replenish Israel’s defenses and $1 billion for Gazan civilians, comes as Israel readies to invade Rafah.
By Matt Surman, Michael Levenson, Christopher F. Schuetze and Nick Cumming-Bruce
The announcement was likely to further strain Germany’s longstanding ties with Israel, which have deteriorated because of differences over the war in Gaza.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The move came just hours after the authorities detained three other people suspected of passing secrets to Beijing.
By Christopher F. Schuetze and Matina Stevis-Gridneff
Sensitive naval data and a high-powered laser were obtained for China by three German citizens, according to prosecutors.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The two men, dual citizens of both countries, were accused of being part of a plot to undermine aid to Ukraine by trying to blow up military infrastructure.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
In debating how to respond to last weekend’s Iranian airstrike, Israel’s war cabinet is choosing between options that could deter future attacks or de-escalate hostilities, but all carry drawbacks.
By Ronen Bergman, Isabel Kershner, Julian E. Barnes and Russell Goldman
This was featured in live coverage.
By Cassandra Vinograd
The killing, which Israel called a “terrorist attack,” prompted rioting by Israeli settlers that killed one Palestinian and raised fears of a broader escalation.
By Aaron Boxerman, Christopher F. Schuetze and Julia Jacobs
Directly and through proxy groups like the Houthis in Yemen, Iran has been disrupting commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf for years.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
As Bayer Leverkusen sealed its first Bundesliga title, the real joy for its rivals came in seeing Bayern Munich lose it.
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
The Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich said it had fired a worker for hanging one of his own pieces in its modern art collection.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Germany argued against the accusation brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice, but Germans are questioning their country’s unwavering support for Israel.
By Marlise Simons, Erika Solomon and Christopher F. Schuetze
Nicaragua has accused Germany over its provision of military and financial aid to Israel. Germany said the case had “no basis in fact or law.”
By Marlise Simons, Christopher F. Schuetze and Erika Solomon
The apparel giant moved quickly to block the sale of shirts bearing the No. 44, which resembled a banned Nazi logo in the uniform’s new lettering.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
A wave of strikes by German workers, feeling the sting of inflation and stagnant growth, is the latest sign of the bleak outlook for Europe’s economic powerhouse.
By Christopher F. Schuetze and Erika Solomon
The American defense secretary told a meeting of Kyiv’s backers that the fight against Russia “remains one of the great causes of our time.”
By Lara Jakes
First President Emmanuel Macron of France, then Chancellor Olaf Scholz, exposed divisions among Western countries trying to avoid direct hostilities with Russia.
By David E. Sanger and Christopher F. Schuetze
Ten people were arrested and later released. The action in Berlin came after one of three wanted members of the militant group was arrested last week.
By Erika Solomon
Daniela Klette, a militant from the Red Army Faction, was on the run for decades. Yet with publicly available digital recognition tools, German police could probably have found her much sooner.
By Erika Solomon and Christopher F. Schuetze
Daniela Klette, who was wanted in connection with the bombing of a prison and violent robberies, was living in plain sight in Berlin, the police say.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
If the Federal Council passes the measure, the country will become the largest nation in Europe to legalize the drug for recreational use.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The German politician has been European Commission president since 2019, becoming a key contact for the Biden administration.
By Matina Stevis-Gridneff
Many were alarmed by comments that he would “encourage” Russia to attack U.S. allies that didn’t spend enough on their militaries, but European leaders were already pondering the prospect of an alliance without the United States.
By David E. Sanger
An estimated 200,000 passengers were expected to be affected by the action at 11 major airports, the latest show of labor unrest in the country.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
This was featured in live coverage.
By Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Adam Rasgon
The police described the transfer of funds as the “most extensive seizure of Bitcoins by law enforcement in the Federal Republic of Germany.”
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The actions came as specific, “horrific” details were more widely shared by the U.N. and Israel.
By Raja Abdulrahim, Julian E. Barnes, Aaron Boxerman and Patrick Kingsley
Large crowds have protested since it was revealed that members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party had met with neo-Nazis and those calling for a mass deportation.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
This was featured in live coverage.
By Victoria Kim and Aaron Boxerman
The walkout, over pay and hours, is the most significant in years at the national train operator, which warned of a “massive reduction” in service.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The far right is intent on exploiting the spread of anger across Europe in an agricultural sector that feels alienated.
By Roger Cohen
The ruling also denies the tax advantages that are normally granted to political organizations, a decision that could offer a path for government efforts to head off a resurgence of the far right.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
News of a secret meeting among extremists to discuss mass deportations, including of citizens from immigrant backgrounds, has shaken the society.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Proponents say the reforms will draw more skilled workers to the country, but that opponents warn the legislation will lessen the value of German nationality.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is likely to find strong backing on a trip to the Baltic States, but other nations are increasingly wary.
By Lara Jakes and Christopher F. Schuetze
Boeing faced new safety questions after an Alaska Airlines jet made an emergency landing when a hole opened in its fuselage in midair.
By Christopher F. Schuetze, Keith Bradsher and Melissa Eddy
In London, around 50 people were evacuated from rising waters. Heavy rain brought similar scenes to parts of France and Germany.
By Derrick Bryson Taylor
This was featured in live coverage.
By Gaya Gupta
The vote in Pirna fits into the Alternative for Germany party’s strategy of “normalization.”
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The trial, held under stringent security conditions and expected to last months, caps one of the gravest espionage scandals in recent German history.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
Three of the men were taken into custody in Berlin and another was arrested by Dutch police in the port city of Rotterdam, according to Germany’s justice minister.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
The government avoided extra borrowing for 2024, but must make cuts in programs to address climate change.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
In the days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to revitalize Germany’s military. Nearly two years on, major change has yet to be felt.
By Christopher F. Schuetze
A Brazilian man stopped a stabbing that prompted one of the worst anti-immigrant riots in recent history. Many people in Ireland and beyond are saying thanks by buying him a proverbial pint.
By Christopher F. Schuetze