The Grey Wolves and the role of German intelligence in its establishment

The Grey Wolves, formally known as Ülkü Ocakları or Idealist Hearths, is a Turkish ultranationalist and neo-fascist youth organization closely affiliated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Founded in the late 1960s, the organization has become synonymous with militant nationalism in Turkey, involved in political violence and organized crime over the decades. They are named after a mythical wolf that led the Turks out of Central Asia, a symbol deeply ingrained in Turkish nationalism.

The group has been implicated in numerous acts of violence, including assassinations, massacres and bombings aimed at leftists, Kurds and other perceived enemies of Turkish nationalism. Notably, they have been accused of being involved in destabilization efforts during the political chaos of the 1970s and 1980s in Turkey, often clashing with left-wing groups and committing major human rights abuses. Their activities have not been confined to Turkey; they have also been active in several European countries with significant Turkish diaspora populations, promoting Turkish nationalist ideology and engaging in violence and intimidation against political foes​​.