Five things to know about Germany's surging nationalist party

Alternative for Germany (AfD) was founded four years ago at the height of the eurozone crisis, when opposition to a German bailout of other countries using the common currency was strong.

The party narrowly failed to pass the 5% threshold to enter parliament in 2013 on a Eurosceptic platform, a hurdle it took handily this time following a campaign focused heavily on chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy.