Of course it was

"The AfD was formed in 2013 by a small group of Eurosceptic economists opposed to bailouts for southern eurozone countries. It gradually shifted its focus to immigration, adopting a stridently xenophobic and anti-Islamic tone, which won it legions of new fans, especially in former communist east Germany."

https://www.ft.com/content/d2eb427f-5e8e-4448-950a-96203e52eb9d