Zerbst

Julian Jansen is a managing director at Fluence, one of the largest utility scale battery storage companies operating in Europe.

On the outskirts of Zerbst, an historic town in East Germany, Fluence built 57 megawatts of battery facility to handle power generated by the adjoining solar panels.

It stores enough electricity to power nearly 14,000 households.

When the site came online in 2025, it was Germany's largest hybrid solar and storage project.

And on the way back, we had to pass over, I think, three German airfields that were occupied by the Russians.

One of those airfields was called Zerbst and another Dessau.

And on the way back to Frankfurt, I asked the pilot if he would pass over those airfields so I could take a look down below and see what was there.

We hadn't made any more than about two turns, and a couple of MiGs came right alongside of us and flew on our wing for perhaps five minutes and then turned around and left.

The 35-year-old native son of Saxony-Anhalt autographing copies, one of which fetched for more than 1,000 euros on the auction platform eBay.

Ulrich Zygmunt, who on the campaign trail touts his party's anti-immigrant message, but makes it seem fun, like whether he's taking part in a scooter parade in the town of Quellenberg or serving beer at an event in Zerbst.

Zygmunt, who serves it up with a smile for Germany's standard talking points.

The issue is clearly migration.

He's been campaigning in the East German state of Saxony-Anhalt, which is holding a crucial election on Sunday, September the 6th.

I attended one of his recent rallies on a blisteringly hot day in a town called Zerbst in Saxony-Anhalt.

Tom Nuttall is our Chief Germany Correspondent.

It was more like a celebrity meet and greet than a political rally, and the day before this event, Der Spiegel, which is one of the most prominent German weekly news magazines, had put his face on the cover and called him the most dangerous man in Germany.

It's pro-Russian.

It wants to restore energy and diplomatic relationship with Russia and for Germany to stop its support for Ukraine.

And maybe most of all, and this is what I really picked up at this rally in Zerbst, it's got this really intense anti-elite streak.

It regards all of the other parties as what it calls cartel parties, and now it's time to give this other lot, the alternative for Germany, a chance.

What? To become Queen of Sweden? That's nothing of a country.

Oh, we can find her a much better match here in Zerbst.

The baron who owns all the Zerbst beer factories, for instance.

Peter has renounced his claim to the Swedish throne and has been adopted by his aunt Elizabeth, who I need not remind you is still Empress of Russia.

She stole the throne of Russia after her sister died.

And you will not leave your room before lunch.

Yes, Mama.

And until such time as you leave this household in Zerbst, you will remember your place.