The president of the Bundestag, the lower house of the West German legislature, has charged that neo-Nazis and former Nazi leaders are exploiting loopholes in German laws to sue for “damages” resulting from denazification proceedings and were attempting to revive Nazi ways.
The denunciation of neo-Nazis and former big-shots by Dr. Eugen Gerstenmaier, a prominent Protestant layman and leading figure in the Adenauer Christian Democratic Union, was first carried in a radio broadcast. He had his speech published in the Government Information Bulletin yesterday. Earlier, he conferred with leaders of all parties on means of preventing “professional Nazis” from infiltrating the government apparatus and from tying up the government with suits for “damages.”
Dr. Gerstenmaier, however, said he saw no reason to fear a significant neo-Nazi revival in the near future. He denounced such evidences of neo-Nazism as the singing of Nazi marching songs at a recent get-together of Wehrmacht veterans, the acquittal of Nazi war criminals in several recent trials and an upswing in threatening letters by former Nazi and Gestapo members.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
