The appearance of former Hitler Youth leader Baldur Von Schirach as a guest on a popular television conversation program last Friday has aroused a storm of protest from British Jews and heated controversy in other quarters. Some newspapers denounced and others defended the telecast of commentator David Frost’s 45-minute interview with the ex-Nazi who was released from Spandau prison in 1966 after serving a 20-year term on charges of having perverted German youth. The program was broadcast by Britain’s Independent Television Network.
Alex Easterman, director of the international affairs department of the World Jewish Congress, said after viewing the show that he thought it was “revolting” to anyone with any recollection of the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis. Mr. Easterman had lodged a complaint on behalf of the WJC Friday when it was announced that Von Schirach was invited to appear on one of Britain’s most popular TV shows. He warned that the prominence given the ex-Nazi “might well be exploited by the neo-Nazis.”
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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.
