Every year neo-Nazis overrun the small German town of Wunsiedel. But on 15 November 2014, we surprised them and turned their annual march into something positive: a charity walk. For every metre the neo-Nazis walked, €10 went to EXIT-Deutschland – an NGO that helps neo-Nazis to leave the far-right scene. So we left them with two options: to either sponsor their own downfall or abandon the march through Wunsiedel for the first time in 20 years. In the end, the neo-Nazis went the full distance and raised €10,000 to help their own members leave the scene.

Right-wing extremism is still a major problem in Germany. For 15 years, the organisation EXIT-Deutschland has been successfully helping neo-Nazis quit the far-right scene. Yet, despite this socially important and effective work, the initiative receives too little attention and too few donations. That’s why EXIT-Deutschland has to fight for its own existence every year. Many towns and cities in Germany are also fighting against right-wing extremists who are exploiting their right to demonstrate and overrunning them – creating a high profile for themselves and negative PR for their chosen parade locations. One of them is the small German town of Wunsiedel.