AfD's Simson moped rallies dismay Jewish family

German AfD politicians' use of vintage Simson mopeds in election campaigning has angered descendants of the Jewish family whose name is on the East German vehicles.

Ulrich Siegmund, the Alternative for Germany party's top candidate and frontrunner in Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt state elections, has led Simson rallies drawing hundreds of riders. Bjoern Hoecke, an AfD figure in neighbouring Thuringia, has also used the bikes in campaign material.

Dennis Baum, a descendant of the Simson founders who lives in New York, said videos of AfD politicians on Simson bikes were "one step too far". He said his family did not want the Simson name politicised and rejected what he called the AfD's appropriation of the name.

The Simson company was founded in the 19th century by Jewish brothers Loeb and Moses Simson in Suhl, Thuringia. Historian Ulrike Schulz said the family was targeted by an antisemitic campaign, pressured by the Gestapo into giving up control of the business and fled Germany under Nazi rule.

The scooters later became icons of the former East Germany, where mopeds and motorcycles were widely used because cars were scarce. The Simson brand survived into the communist era and remains popular among enthusiasts, especially for its retro style, simple mechanics and rules allowing older registered models to travel faster than standard scooters.