DISINFO: The Fourth Reich is preparing for another Drang nach Osten
SUMMARY
[In Europe] real Nazism is being revived, and there are plenty of examples of this. Including the speech by the new German Chancellor, Merz, stating that it is time for Germany to lead Europe again. To say such words, one has to be a very big cynic. The militarisation of Europe has been proclaimed as one of the main tasks for the second half of the decade. This is a dangerous trend. The Fourth Reich, whose backbone will again be Germany, is preparing for another "Drang nach Osten".
RESPONSE
This disinformation story aims to portray the EU as a warmongering and militaristic geopolitical power. The EU is also repeatedly framed as a “Nazi” power.
The claim about a 'Fourth Reich' with Germany as its backbone, preparing for a new 'Drang nach Osten' (Drive to the East) is baseless historical revisionism.
This disinformation message appeared in the context of the recent decision by the German authorities to significantly increase defence spending, marking a departure from decades of fiscal conservatism.
The case also refers to the EU's decision to allocate an additional 800 billion euros for defence needs. According to the words of Ursula von der Leyen,
“Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime. ReArm Europe’ could mobilise close to 800 billion euros of defence expenditures for a safe and resilient Europe”.
See also the European Council conclusions on European defence, 6 March 2025 and our article’ Reminder: Russia wants war, not peace’.
The ongoing increase in defence spending across the EU is explained by Russia's aggressive and illegal actions, including the annexation of Crimea, the War in Donbas and the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The article draws absurd parallels between the EU and Nazi Germany by referring to the EU as the “4th Reich” which corresponds to the frequent Nazi-labelling disinformation technique used by pro-Kremlin outlets.
The EU was founded after WWII to promote peace, democracy, human rights, economic cooperation, social justice and cultural diversity. The EU founding treaties emphasise economic cooperation to prevent future wars. Founders of the EU were all active opponents of Nazi Germany. Part of their opposition to Nazism was the EU project itself, thinking that by establishing a political and economic union between European countries, they can ensure ideologies such as Nazism never rise again.
See other similar cases in our database: Germany wants a revanche and the revival of Nazism can be observed; Warmongering EU’s Fourth Reich wants a Third World War; Ursula von der Leyen is a Reich Gauleiter; The EU is Hitler's 'New Europe', its goal is to colonise Russia and Eurasian space; The EU is a "Fourth Reich", which wants to control whole Europe; Anglo-Saxons turn Europe into the 4th Reich; the Fourth Reich is coming.