German police arrest 120 anti-Fascists

Germany is witnessing the rise of neo-Nazi groups

NEUMUENSTER, Germany -- Police have arrested 120 anti-fascist demonstrators who attacked a protest rally by neo-Nazis and skinheads in north Germany.

Around 300 right-wing extremists were protesting in the town of Neumuenster, 40 km (25 miles) north of Hamburg, after local authorities withdrew the operating licence of "Club 88" -- a regional meeting place for the far right.

The number 88 is used as a code by neo-Nazi groups for the banned Nazi slogan "Heil Hitler," where the eights correspond to the letter "H" as the eighth letter of the alphabet.

Police detained the counter-demonstrators, many of whom were extreme left-wingers known as "Autonomists," after they tried to attack the neo-Nazis through a police barrier.

Heide Simonis, premier of the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, told a counter-demonstration of around 1,000 left-wing activists, trade unionists and ordinary members of the public that citizens should show more civil courage against right-wing extremism.

"We need more people who will not just look away and hide if someone beside them is being beaten up or even killed," Simonis said. She described "Club 88" as a "piece of dirt."

German authorities have pledged to crack down on the small but vocal far-right movement after a spate of racist violence that has shocked a country still mindful of its Nazi past.

The German government, under pressure to react to a spate of racist and far-right violence, last week outlawed a small group of far-right extremists known as "Blood and Honour" for spreading neo-Nazi propaganda.

The government has been examining a ban on the larger National Democratic Party (NPD) for the past month following an eruption of far-right violence this summer, but has so far held off seeking to outlaw the party because of fears that the constitutional court may overturn the decision.

Elsewhere on Saturday, around 700 people demonstrated in Dusseldorf against neo-Nazi violence.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Germany bans neo-Nazi skinhead group
September 14, 2000
German neo-Nazis protest over rally ban
September 2, 2000
Schroeder urges Germans to fight racism
August 23, 2000
Calls for ban on far-right party grow louder
August 12, 2000

Unofficial website covering German government
Adolf Hitler & Europe

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.