— Friedrich Rainer, charged with neo-Nazi activity, was acquitted by a Klagenfurt court jury last week. However, the court decided that this was a mistake and suspended the verdict. The matter will be brought before the Supreme Court.
Rainer distributed leaflets propagating Nazi ideals and politics. The District Attorney asked the defendant whether he ever had doubts about the contents of the leaflets. Responding, Rainer said: “No. Everything is true. The horror stories about gas chambers are just propaganda made up by Zionists and Communists. History will bring out the whole truth.”
The court room audience, mostly nationalists and rightwingers, applauded Rainer’s statement. Security measures were tight and several times the judge had to order the audience to remain silent during the proceedings. Rainer’s sister, Erika Hannesschlaeger, also was acquitted. Another sister is scheduled to face trial on similar charges in the near future.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
