Germany: Police provoke clashes with anti-fascists
01 November 2001
On 1 December, around 3,000 nazis descended on Berlin to object to the Wehrmachtsausstellung, an exhibition uncovering war crimes by the regular German army during the second world war - destroying the myth that the Wehrmacht was different from Hitler's SS in its anti-emitic sentiments or genocidal tendencies. It has been pursued throughout its tour of Germany by far-right demonstrations and one bomb attack. In Berlin, 5,000 people held a counter-demonstration which was harassed by the police and led to clashes directly in front of Berlin's historic synagogue - marginalising the peaceful blockade by the Jewish community against the nazi presence. The nazis had an undisturbed rally and a safe journey to a from their demonstration.
The Wehrmachtsausstellung, researched and compiled by the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, has created political upheaval since its first tour through Germany and Austria in 1995. It documents in great detail the war crimes committed by the regular army during the nazi period, in particular in Russia and eastern Europe. Some critics have argued that the new exhibition partially excuses not the war crimes but the motivation of the Wehrmacht in denying its institutionally anti-semitic character. The many photos of grinning soldiers in triumphalist postures in front of their dead victims at least questions this position.
The Berlin demonstration against the exhibition was the biggest organised by nazis in Berlin since 1945. Originally, the march was planned to pass through the old Jewish quarter, but the Berlin authorities changed the route at the beginning in November. Despite this it ended up near the synagogue - with nazis shouting slogans like: "Glory and honour to the German soldier".
The area in front of the Synagogue became a battlefield, with burning barricades, a few demolished police cars and 30 arrests. The Jewish community continued its sit-in and chanted at the police: "Shame on you". The police threatened to forcibly end the protests. Andreas Nachama, former chair of a Jewish community organisation commented: "It is unacceptable that the counter-demonstrators are portrayed as the "baddies", when those shouting the slogans become those who "behaved" and are portrayed as good."
Telepolis 4.3.97; Jungle World Nr 50, 5.12.2001; http://de.indymedia.org