Kathrin Oertel is a German political activist born on January 23, 1978, in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). She rose to prominence as a co-founder of Pegida (Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes), an anti-Islam and anti-immigration movement that began in Dresden in October 2014. As the group's spokeswoman and coordinator, Oertel was instrumental in organizing its early protests, which attracted thousands of participants and sparked widespread controversy for promoting nationalist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic views. Pegida's demonstrations criticized what its supporters saw as the 'Islamization of the West' and opposed Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies, positioning Oertel as a key figure in the rise of far-right populism in Germany during that period. Oertel's tenure with Pegida ended abruptly in 2015 amid internal conflicts, including power struggles with leader Lutz Bachmann and allegations of financial irregularities within the movement. She resigned from her leadership role, citing disillusionment with the group's direction and scandals, such as Bachmann's use of Nazi imagery. Following her departure, Oertel distanced herself from Pegida, which continued to face criticism for extremism and links to neo-Nazi elements. In subsequent years, she has maintained a lower public profile but has been involved in legal and advisory roles, including serving as an expert witness on topics related to political activism and extremism. Her background reflects the socio-political tensions in post-reunification East Germany, particularly in Saxony, where Pegida originated.