It is a spring evening in Germany’s eastern city of Cottbus, and dozens of people have crowded into a small venue to hear a man who once dubbed himself the “friendly face” of National Socialism (Nazism).

Two other men with prior links to extremist groups are also in the room, including a candidate for forthcoming state elections.

They’re all there to hear Matthias Helferich at a youth event organised by members of the prominent far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).

The AfD has repeatedly rejected accusations of extremism.

However, by investigating the past of these three men, the BBC has found a clear crossover between AfD figures and far-right networks, some of which are classed as anti-democratic or racist by German authorities.

Stephan Kramer, a regional spy chief in eastern Germany, has told the BBC the AfD now poses a danger to the “roots” of democracy, as the party eyes electoral gains in three states in the east this autumn: Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin’s region of Brandenburg.

Ahead of next month’s European elections the AfD, beset by extremism and corruption allegations, has dipped in the polls but still consistently places second nationwide.

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