Sharp condemnation was voiced today by the American Jewish Committee on the appointment of Dr. Friedrich Middelhauve, a neo-Nazi in West Germany, as Minister of Economics in North Rhine Westphalia. The new cabinet member, who is also Deputy Minister President, is the head of the Free Democratic Party in North Rhine Westphalia, richest and most populous of the states of West Germany. The statement, issued by Irving M. Engel, AJC president, declared:
“Middelhauve’s elevation to such an important government post is a step backward in Germany’s efforts to rejoin the family of civilized nations. His appointment is particularly shocking in view of his frank use of anti-Semitism for political ends. This great admirer of ‘the vitality of the Nazi Party’ publicly announced, as recently as 1952, that in building his political party ‘preference will be given to the recruitment of former Nazis.’
“While Middelhauve’s own conduct makes him ineligible for any position of government trust, his close political association with Dr. Wolfgang Diewerge, who is Middelhauve’s assistant, should have sent Middelhauve into permanent political oblivion, Diewerge is one of Germany’s most infamous Jew-baiters, and has been for more than 20 years. A former SS Colonel, Diewerge was in charge of the radio department of Goebbels’ Propaganda Ministry.
“The only way the German people can gain respect and trust in the free world is through positive actions demonstrating a genuine break with Nazi tradition. ointing to public office neo-Nazis such as Middelhauve is a sure way of dissipating the respect and trust of the free world.
“The murderous regime of the Nazis left a moral stench that still reeks in the memories of all civilized human beings. Putting into public office men like Middelhauve, who admire and excuse the Nazi barbarities, is a blow to the cause of freedom to which, presumably, West Germany adheres. It also makes it more difficult for Germany to be accepted as an equal among the free nations of the world.”
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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.
