President Theodor Huess and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer today received telegrams from the Berlin Jewish Community protesting “the scandalous verdict” of the court in Neu-Muenster yesterday in acquitting the former Nazi, Wolfgang Hedler, of charges of making an anti-Semitic speech, in which he supported the Hitler idea of “getting rid of the Jews.” (See Page 3 for earlier report.)
“This verdict opened the way to great developments, fostering anti-Semitism and Nazism,” the protest of the Jewish Community said. “Grave danger is again confronting the Jewish survivors in Germany.”
The West German press was today unanimous in its condemnation of the acquittal. The Bavarian Landtag (state parliament) also joined in protests against the verdict. Landtag president Dr. Georg Stan was applauded when he said Hedler’s behavior in court reminded him very much of the manner of Hitler when he was tried in 1924. With in minutes of Hedler’s acquittal yesterday, Social Democrat leader Kurt Schumacher condemned the decision as a “disgusting scandal.”
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