Germany’s Neo-nazis Move Their Activities to Foreign Soil

Due to heavier pressure by the authorities, German neo-Nazi groups have moved many of their activities out of the country, according to the German general security service.

German and Austrian radicals have recently opted for countries such as Denmark and Spain as their headquarters. Although these countries condemn the activities of the German radical right, they allow the groups to operate on their soil.

These revelations come against the backdrop of two recent raids by German authorities on neo-Nazis that have been viewed as successful.

In a nationwide strike against neo-Nazis last week, police raided 80 apartments throughout the country, confiscating illegal, imported anti-Semitic material. Police also found weapons and ammunition during the sweep, officials said.

Among the illegal publications seized during the raid were those by Gary Lauck, an American neo-Nazi being held in Denmark. Danish authorities apprehended Lauck at the request of Germany, which has now asked for the extradition of the Lincoln, Neb., native.

Denmark’s liberal freedom of speech laws have long frustrated Germany in its quest to silence neo-Nazis. German officials reportedly were not sure whether Copenhagen would automatically comply with the extradition request.

Lauck is suspected of smuggling banned neo-Nazi literature into Germany for more than two decades, to be copied and distributed among neo-Nazi groups.

The Midwestern suspect heads the National Socialist German Workers’ Party- Foreign Organization, a name derived from the official title of Adolf Hitler’s party. Lauck has said his group is heir to the Nazi party and that Hitler was “too humane.”

Three days after the apartment raids, German police struck a major blow at neo- Nazi groups when 231 skinheads were apprehended while traveling to a concert in the eastern German town of Triptis.

This sting was one of the largest operations against neo-Nazis in recent years.

In all, about 450 extreme rightists arrived for the concert, which was to have taken place at a pub in town. Word of the unauthorized gathering reportedly reached the local police only hours before it was to have taken place.

The police of the state of Thuringia gathered reinforcements within hours, controlling access roads from western Germany, particularly the Munich-Berlin road. Many skinheads were seized at the station of the city of Gera.

Police confiscated knives, baseball bats, gas pistols, hit-chains and neo-Nazi propaganda from the skinheads.

Owners of the pub were reported to be surprised when informed by police that the gathering would not take place. They told police that the organizers had reserved the place to hold a birthday party.