Counter-demonstrators turn tables on neo-Nazis.

By Sharon Wrobel, The Algemeiner

A group of about 150 far-right extremists and neo-Nazis marched over the weekend in residential areas of a German town for a torchlight commemoration of Adolf Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess, prompting a greater show of force by counter-protestors.

Members and far-right supporters of the German “Third Way” party participated on Saturday in the annual march in the Bavarian town of Wunsiedel to pay tribute to the World War II-era Nazi leader, who was once buried there. About 250 counter protestors responded by taking to the streets to demonstrate against right-wing extremism, according to a local police report.

“With their planned march, the neo-Nazis show their contempt for our history and the victims of the Shoah,” commented Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. “Even more important are the counter rallies. I am happy about every courageous person who opposes right-wing extremists.”

Participants in the counterdemonstrations included members of the network Wunsiedel ist bunt (Wunsiedel is colorful), as well as churches and a grammar school. They gathered at the town’s train station before moving to the city center, police said.

“There is no right to Nazi propaganda, not in Wunsiedel or other places. We stand together against fascism,” the counter-protesters were heard shouting.

For decades, far-right extremists have flocked to Wunsiedel for Hess’ annual commemoration march and to visit his gravestone in the town’s cemetery.

Neo-Nazi groups still gather in the small German town, even though Hess’ remains were exhumed in 2011 and his gravestone — which reads “Ich hab’s gewagt,” or “I have dared” — was destroyed. The removal of his remains followed local residents’ disapproval of Wunsiedel’s status as an annual Nazi pilgrimage site that has led to incidents of unrest.

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Local Berlin residents came out to counter a neo-Nazi march commemorating the death of Rudolf Hess.

Some 500 neo-Nazis, marched through Berlin on Saturday and nearly 40 people were arrested as police shut down the march.

The neo-Nazis were marching in commemoration of the death of former Hitler deputy and leading Nazi Rudolf Hess, the New York Times reported.

Hess was sentenced to life in prison by the Nuremberg war-crimes tribunal. He hanged himself in 1987 at the Spandau prison when he was 93 years old.

The march was blocked by residents and left-wing activists. All but four of those arrested were members of the far-right, and 12 among the detained had displayed Nazi symbols, which are banned in Germany.

Others are being investigated for breach of the peace, assault, resisting arrest, drug offenses and breaking the law on public assembly.

Jossa Berntje, a 64-year-old counter protester from the western city of Koblenz, recalled her parents’ experience living under the Nazis as her reason for coming.

“The rats are coming out of the sewers,” she told the Associated Press.

Berntje added that she was also marching in solidarity with anti-racists in the United States after a right-wing rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over a week ago had turned deadly.

By: World Israel News Staff

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