Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday launched a scathing personal attack against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, accusing her of using "Nazi measures" in an intensifying dispute between Ankara and Berlin.

"You are right now employing Nazi measures," Erdogan told Merkel in a televised speech, using the informal 'you' in Turkish. "Against who? My Turkish brother citizens in Germany and brother ministers" who went to the country to campaign for a 'yes' vote in next month's referendum on expanding his powers.