Greek communities in Germany protest neo-nazi Golden Dawn branch in Nuremberg

Greek communities in Germany are in uproar and vehemently oppose the establishment of a branch by extreme-right, neo-nazi party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) and thus in Nuremberg,  the Bavarian city that became the centre of Nazi propaganda and the place where the notorious  racial laws against Jews were adopted by the then Parliament. 

In a joint statement the Federation of Greek Communities in Germany (OEK) describes as “insulting” the openning of the GD branch and declares it would use all legal means as well as the physical presence of its members to stop it.

The Federation further describes the GD presence in Germany as “undesirable” and calls on all Greeks in Germany to “isolate each effort by neo-Nazism “attempting to propagate violence, intolerance and social cannibalism.” 

“The establishment of a Golden Dawn branch in Nuremberg is a top attack and a disgrace for Greece and Europe.

It causes outrage and anger among the migrants’ community because of the attempted symbolism with the choice of Nuremberg when the notorious racist laws were adopted by the Third Reich in 1935.

Greek migrants in Germany do not forget tragic incidents of racism against them, the murders of Greeks by German neo-nazis (2003-2005) and the description “dirty Greeks” that has followed them. We refuse to accept violence, totalitarism and social cannibalism as solution to a country shaken by a multi-faced crisis.”( from OEK statement via Zougla.gr, ert.gr)

Nurenberg, a city in the Federal state of Bavaria,  held great significance during the Nazi Germany era. Because of the city’s relevance to the Holy Roman Empire and its position in the centre of Germany, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge Nazi Party conventions – the Nuremberg rallies. The rallies were held 1927, 1929 and annually 1933-1938 in Nuremberg. After Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 the Nuremberg rallies became huge Nazi propaganda events, a centre of Nazi ideals.

At the 1935 rally, Hitler specifically ordered the Reichstag to convene at Nuremberg to pass the anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws which revoked German citizenship for all Jews.

A subcamp of Flossenbürg concentration camp was located here.

Between 1945 and 1946, German officials involved in the Holocaust and other war crimes were brought before an international tribunal in the Nuremberg Trials.