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German neo-Nazis becoming more professional

Updated: 06/Oct/2006 15:54

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BERLIN (EJP)--- A German expert on right-wing extremism has warned that neo-Nazis are becoming "more professional" and threatening to become a mainstream political force.

Karl-George Ohse, who heads a consulting team charged with countering growing neo-Nazi influence in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, said that right-wing extremism is "strongly anchored" in the state and that the right-wing NPD is likely to win at least 10 per cent of the vote in the next state election.

He stated: "Neo-Nazis are the only ones that offer anything to youngsters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern."

Widespread unhappiness over the state of the German economy and continuing high unemployment combined with a rise in support for extremist movements were widely seen as being behind the relatively good showing of neo-Nazis in local elections earlier this month.

At the most recent election on September 17, the NPD got 7.3 per cent of votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with mainly young men voting for the party.

Eastern discontent

German experts and international observers said that the result showed that the right-wing NPD party had strong support in the economically-depressed eastern region of the country.

What was formerly East Germany behind the Iron Curtain has remained economically stunted, with large unemployment compared to the former West Germany, since the country’s reunification.

Experts say that the situation has led to a rise in the popularity of the NPD in the region. But while the NPD remains limited in popularity on a nationwide scale, observers have warned that the strength of its support in the east and NPD results in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern should not be ignored.

Ohse said that, in some regions in northern Germany, right-wing extremism was taking hold. He pointed out what he said were "strongholds" for right-wing ideas: Pommern, Vorpommern and the administrative district of Ludwigslust.

"Youth culture is right-wing and racist," he added.

Mock election

Ohse also highlighted the "election" that took place among school kids in 40 schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern earlier this month at the same time as local government elections. The NPD got 11.3 per cent of votes cast by the school children.

He claimed that education was the best way to counteract that disturbing trend. He plans to offer a series of events and round-table discussions to make people aware of "the political alternatives" to neo-Nazis.

Ohse said: "People have insufficient knowledge of right-wing extremism. The less knowledge that people have, the less courage they have to stand up for democratic values.

"We want to show people that democracy may be an exhausting form of government but that it can achieve things."

He warned, though, that the federal government also needed to fight right-wing extremism. "You can't leave an economically underdeveloped state like Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone."

Day in history

4 July 1976

The Entebbe Rescue

256 hostages from an Air France plane are held prisoners by Palestinian terrorists and Ugandan soldiers at Entebbe airport.

After 8 days they are rescued by Israeli commandos in a brilliant ruse under the command of Yonatan Netanyahu, brother of the current Israeli Prime Minister, who was shot in the back during the rescue.