Neo-Nazis are successfully recruiting youth gangs and members of soccer fan clubs to spread their propaganda, daub walls with slogans and generally engage in acts of hooliganism, two officials of the City State of Hamburg warned.
Alfons Pawelczyk, Interior Minister, and Christian Lochte, head of internal security, reported that 300 followers of the neo-Nazi leader Michael Kuehnen, a former army officer, have been assisted by various youth groups to pass out leaflets and display propaganda material. According to the officials. Kuehnen regards these groups, which are in principle nonpolitical, as a “reserve” from which to draw new members.
They singled out a gang called “Skinheads” and a soccer fan club called “The Lions” as the ones which have cooperated most frequently with Kuehnen’s followers. Another gang, “Savage Army”, was disbanded last year but is attempting to re-organize and establish contact with the neo-Nazis, the officials said.
POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE
They noted that in recent months, many young soccer fans displayed Nazi symbols during and after matches and shouted Nazi slogans. But these incidents have been played down as irrelevant to political extremism. Nevertheless, there is a possibility of violence, the officials warned.
They are particularly concerned that this might occur when the West German and Turkish soccer teams meet in Berlin October 26. Neo-Nazi groups are said to be preparing a major propaganda demonstration at the match which could lead to violence.
According to a report from Kaiserslautern, a member of the “Skinheads” was arrested for participating in attacks on Turks after a soccer game there last weekend. The gang members daubed Nazi slogans on walls and demolished several stores owned by non-Germans.
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