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Alex Grimm / Bongarts via Getty Images
Fans of the German soccer team Kaiserslautern hold up Israeli flags to protest against anti-Semitism prior to the Bundesliga match between FC Kaiserslautern and VfL Wolfsburg in March last year.
Nearly seven decades after the Holocaust, young soccer fans in Germany have become targets of neo-Nazis who preach the hatred of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich.
“Again and again we see neo-Nazi presence in [sports] fan clubs and my office asks that action be taken against them,” said Winfriede Schreiber, head of the Brandenburg branch of the German government’s intelligence service. “For example, we see the fan club in [the German city] Cottbus consisting of a lot of neo-Nazis. We asked the football club to do something about this.”
At her office in Brandenburg, a state in eastern Germany, Schreiber monitors extremism and reports evidence of hate crimes to prosecutors.
“The neo-Nazis now look like everyone else,” Schreiber said. “Gone are the jackboots and black leather jackets that used to make it easy to expose them. Now they blend into the local population.”
According to Schreiber, the neo-Nazis subscribe to Hitler’s views and extol his one-time deputy, Rudolf Hess.
“The danger the neo-Nazis pose is that they are against democracy and they work to alienate young people from democracy,” she said. “They have made ‘Juden’ [Jews] a curse word even if there are no Jews playing on the soccer field.”
Jens Teschke, a spokesman for Germany's interior ministry, which is responsible for domestic security, said neo-Nazi activities are visible throughout Germany, but strongest in the country's east.
“Neo-Nazis take young soccer fans to homes built in the Nazi times as holiday retreats for elite members of Hitler’s party,” Teschke said. “They laud the Nazi era and the legacy of this era.”
According to Teschke, the German government launched programs in January 2011 to make soccer coaches more aware of neo-Nazi tactics.
The problem is not limited to Germany.
In England, fans of London-based Tottenham Hotspur -- which boasts a strong Jewish following -- have been subjected to anti-Semitic abuse for many years. In November, supporters of West Ham United "hissed on several occasions, mocking the mass execution of Jews during the Second World War," the U.K.'s Telegraph newspaper reported. "While the hissing, shamefully, is nothing new, Tottenham fans were also subjected to a chant of 'Adolf Hitler, he's coming for you.'"
Only days earlier, an American college student suffered a foot-long stab wound and a punctured lung when a mob of up to 50 masked men armed with knives and baseball bats attacked Tottenham Hotspur fans before a Europa League match in Rome.
Witnesses told local media that the attackers shouted "Jews, Jews" as they laid siege to the bar.
"The coordinated attack ... appears to have been motivated at least in part by anti-Semitism," the Telegraph reported.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center also recently highlighted the issue's growth. "The problem of anti-Semitic abuse at soccer matches which until recently has been limited to Eastern Europe, has been revived in Western Europe," it said in a report.
Prime targets of anti-Semitism on the soccer field are the Makkabi teams, Jewish athletic clubs located in 15 German cities.
“Every Makkabi team in Germany is confronted with anti-Semitism, as are teams with Jewish roots,” said Deidre Berger, director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Berlin, an advocacy group.
Soccer coach Claudio Oppenberg, who is Jewish, said his team also faced anti-Semitism from Muslim immigrants.
According to Oppenberg, who’s coached Tus Makkabi Berlin for seven years, only two members of the current team are Jewish. The rest are from North Africa and Turkey.
During a game last March, Oppenberg said members of a Turkish team shouted at fellow Turks on the Makkabi team: “How can you play for these damned Jews?”
The Turkish team beat the Makkabis 1-0. Oppenberg said the Turkish coach confronted him after the game and said: “We f---d you Jews.”
Oppenberg filed charges with the German Football Federation and the Turkish coach was suspended for a year.
“If you have racism and anti-Semitism in society, then you will have it in football too,” said Alex Feuerherdt, a soccer referee and freelance writer.
Donald Snyder, a veteran NBC News producer for more than 25 years, is a special correspondent for NBCNews.com.
Related:
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A retired teacher's courageous crusade: Tackling neo-Nazi hate
Leave a Comment:
It is truly amazing to witness hatred spread like an infectious disease -- like a virus. And once a human is infected, their mind cannot see and understand how disturbing their behavior is or how sick they've become. They are blind to it. All that energy and effort to destroy others. How sad.
testing. I tried to make a comment, and was told an email was being sent to me to verify my account, but 10 minutes later there is nothing in my email, nor my spam box. When I reset my password shortly before, I got a response immediately. What is up?
So, I am trying again. Germany does not tolerate homeschoolers despite the fact that homeschoolers are a provable source of fine, upstanding citizens. Germany is modeling intolerance by its own agenda. Instead it should be setting standards which will encourage a healthy society.
Its really amazing how stupid and brainwashed all of you sheeple screaming "anti-semite" are while Israel bulldozes homes and blockades needed supplies from entering Gaza. The hate on Israel is well deserved, it has nothing to do with nazis.
You do know, you Muslim apologist idiot, that Gaza shares a border with Egypt. So why are you not angry with Egypt for failing to stock Gaza? And a few houses? Pfft! Look at the thousands killed by fellow Muslims in Syria, Iraq, etc.
What the Nazis did to expel Jews from their home in Germany is the same as what the Jews did to expel the Palestinians from their homeland to make Israel.
Zionists/neocons CONTROL America.. so called American'' leadership''
can't even poop without the zionists/aipac saying so..
there are 1000s and 1000s of vedeos
on youtub and other websites see hijackeddot com.or just look it up on youtub
vedeos? is that the literal translation from the arabic?
and nope, there are Arabs in Israel. It was the Jewish Arabs who were expelled from Jordan, N. Africa, and the rest of the hate-filled ME.
read many reports and even read some history books that the so called 'holocaust'
NEVER HAPPENED..And that it was CREATED By zionists to sue European banks
for BILLIONS..SO Holocaust WAS A TOTAL HOAX Look...
From day one Obama has painted a target on the back of Israel siding withe Palestinians who sided with the Nazis, his Occupy Wall St. friends demonized Jews, every friend and mentor Obama ever had hated the Jews, here in America it is obviously muti Billionaire Jewish individuals like Bloomberg and Soros promoting the Gun Ban Agenda and soon the hate will spread here as well. The best friends of Israel and the Jews has always been Christian conservatives right here in America but the Jews always put their money on the hard Left.
Makes you wonder why Jews voted so heavily for Obama and the Democratic party.
You don't have to be a Nazi to know that in reality the Israelis are worse than all the lies told about the Nazis. Wake up sheeple!
Tell us some lies about Nazis.
WELL SAID.. ITS TIME TO Stand up to the Zionists/neocons bullies.
thx. for standing up..there are 1000s of vedeos online exposing that
RUTHLESS Zionist welfare crappy state of Israel.
that apartheid welfare state of Israel is giving birth control to the Ethiyubian
and black jews to control the black population.. see the MANY Documents and vedeos
look it up it no secret..its the Zionists who are TROUBLE MAKERS..And its ALL COMING
TO THEM..Its called KARMA
So, according to you, people with dark skin in Israel are FORCED to take Birth Control Pills.
YOU are part of the problem. You need to educate yourself.
Black People in America take Birth Control pills. They even demand they get it for free.
Black women even demand FREE abortions.
But, somehow you can twist this to be racist. Only the most ignorant would fall for this.
Do you even know what Apartheid means? It means crap. But used as an expolsive hate word. Used in hate of whites or Jews to instigate and justify killing whites, Jews, Christians, and members of Authority.
What is the Muslim Brotherhood? They are the personification of Apartheid. They are by their Shahada bound and commited to destroying the USA and Israel. They have stated it time and time again. But, yet the USA is giving them Weapons of Mass Destruction, putting them into our Government, giving them safe shelter, Funding, and free reign to subvert the USA. CAIR is their International Apartheid Headquarters based in Chicago. What a coincidence, same place Obama is from.
So Apartheid means nothing. Just a Code word for KILL WHITEY.
jimmyfox
'America' Is not giving them these things, Obama is. And Obama is NOT AMERICA
Its part of a World Wide Communist Movement for a one World Communist Government. The Leaders are trained well and paid even better.
The Communists, Muslims, Black Racist are trained in how to organize, promote, and exploit any and every weakness in what ever Society they are focusing on. Demonize Jews, Christians, Whites, Religion and Authority. It is working very well.
They are trained on how to locate and organize gullible, stupid, ignorant, troubled youth, dysfunctional adults, and Power hungry polititians.
Are German Schools dividing students up between Jews and non Jews and then demanding they understand that just by being Jewish you are a bigot??
Well, that's exactly what they are doing right now in American Schools. Dividing students up, whites and non whites and demanding that Whites understand that they are bigots and Racist just because they are White.
Its just pure crap. Pure Dictatorial Crap form idiots who call themselves educators. They are facists.
Hatred of Zionists and Israelis is well deserved. Look at what they are doing to the poor palistinans. Anyone who can defend Israels is either a foolish, ignorant sheep or a lying fascist pig.
NWOstooge, educated yourself. There is no Palestine and never were any Palestinians. ITs only after Israel became a Country that mostly Egyptians living in that area became known as Palestinians.
If you know anything about History, then you KNOW that the Terrorists living in the area known as Palestine have been attacking Israel for 60 years. Remember the Terrorist, Yassar Arrafat? PLO Terrorist. Have you forgotten all the World Wide Terrorism against the USA and Israel that went on in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 911, Fort Hood, Little Rock Arkansas, US embassies all over the World, and most recent Terrorist Act, Benghazi.
Any Country with a Muslim Population is on FIRE with Terrorism or going to be. Its their Religion Stupid. World Dominian. Convert them or Kill them.
stooge,
Do you wear your swastika in the open?
No hatred is "well deserved." Condemnation is deserved when groups or countries do wrong, as Israel often does, but condemnation should never change into hatred.
Dumb asses!!!!.... I am most certain that here in the USA you would not go to Harlem City in New York call the black people the "N" word... or to a Federal Prison call everyone there gay!!! if they get thier asses kicked it's of thier own fault no one to blame but those fueling the fire.... Bad cases have been documented in history all over the globe generations ago, what are they trying to prove or start??? Go home and leave the Nazi people alone, leave the KKK alone, leave they Gays alone, leave the NRA alone, leave the freedom alone!!! or you will get what you don't want!!! Dumb Asses!!!
that f. crappy state of israel wants to control the world.. its ALREADY
Controling the u.s gov. as the great pat Buchannon said'
'' the u.s. congress is another Israeli occupied territory'
U.S Congress can even breath without the AIPAC saying so.gain some balls ppl.
I think Germany should be respected more as a country and not allow that kind of racial hatred we all know that did much damage to a population in the past.
Who is pushing Gun bans and seizure plans in America but Rich Powerful Jewish individuals, other than Obama who gets much of his money from Jewish interests look who is behind the gun ban, Bloomberg, George Soros, Diane Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Rahm Emanuel, Hollywood, the Weinsteins, Speilberg, Pinch Shultzberger of the Times, Rupert Murdock, almost every big name pushing these anti-American Gun Bans are Jewish and the hatred against them will rise here as well.
It may be politcally incorrect to say this, but it seems pretty well obvious just who wants to enslave America.
I am almost ready to believe that there is something inherent in Jews that makes them despicable. Since old testament times they are a group that has always been set upon, exorcised, and despised. How can so much ill-will continue for thousands of years without some rational cause. Almost like most peoples fear of snakes.
that is a good question Tom. I believe that it is partly because they are so secular and it is part of their religion to view other races and peoples as cattle and pawns for their manipulation. Their god is not a good god.
Europeans have been saying the same thing about Native Americans ever since they discovered them in North America in 1492.
They tried genocide, but we refused to be wiped out. They stole our children, tried to kill our native languages, forbade our native religions on pain of death, said it was not murder or illegal to kill an Indian, and even today a white man or anyone else can go on a reservation and rape or physically abuse an Indian woman or child and the Tribal police are not allowed to arrest him. He can leave the rez and if he is charged with the crime at all it is pleaded down to a misdemeanor and the piece of crap never spends a day in jail.
So it isn't the Jew and it isn't the Indian.. it's the sense of superiority that permeates some cultures.
screminmimi
With he Passage of the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), The Power has been given to the Tribal Authorites to Now Handle any Matter that happens on Tribal Lands themselves...
It has to go to the House now and that is controlled by the Republicans. They can kill it again like they did last time. They have a problem with Indians being able to arrest and prosecute non-Indians.
The Israelis and Zionists bring it on themselves. Their elite want to rule the world and the hate for them is well deserved. Look at what Israel is doing to the poor Palestinians. Unfortunate that the foolish and brainwashed masses of sheeple can't seem to think beyond what the television tells them.
Recent DNA studies on Hitler's family shows that he was in fact a Ashkenazi Jew. Yet he advocated Aryan supremacy, blond hair, blue eyes, while he had neither. Recent DNA studies show that the Ashkenazi Jews, which make up 92% or so of Jews worldwide, are not Semites, but rather, of Turkish descent. So, we have a situation where the so-called Neo-Nazis support Hitler, a Jew, while railing against Jews. Then we have a whole host of people that swollow the Jewish propaganda hook line and sinker and think the Neo-Nazis are Anti-Semitic. What both are, is ignorant.
never seen confederate flag on game . All world can ask god_what is wrong with Israel ?
Hate is hate. Both sides hate equally. I was brought up in a jewish family and they are the most judgmental religion in the world. More then muslims or christians. NeoNatzi's is just another stupid religion. Hate must be taught and it usually begins on the parental level, down thru the generations. Religions and Gangs are a mental illness on a global scale known as "Ignorance" Governments teach their people to hate others. There is not one government on earth that teaches it's people to love others. That is so very sad. Haters of other people should all be put on one island and let them kill each other off and let the rest of us who want peace on earth alone. ToKnow1 on twitter we want peace!!!
I know it was legal to kill as many Nazis as possible, as fast as possible, during world war two. Why have things changed?
I'm amazed at how many neo-Nazis are able to actually sign on to the Internet and type their hatred.
Yet you do it with pride.
Why on earth would you think I'm a neo-Nazi? Oh wait, you're just a troll, never mind.
Left in you avatar? Duh?
Major elements of Nazism have been described as far-right, such as allowing domination of society by people deemed racially superior, while purging society of people declared inferior, who were said to be a threat to national survival.
HELL Even the pope is closet nazi.. whats that tell ya.
And why that PARANIOD Crappy,ruthless bloddy Israel
fears EVERYONE..Let the truth come out..AND Stand UP TO THE Zionists.
those SCHMUCK,Hymies,shylock..they want to CONTROL EVERY FREAKIN THING. F.U
I take it you like soccer.
Tea Baggers=Nazis, get the fyck out of my Republican Party!
rick-2015926 = A$$Hole
rick, My child,
You did know that Nazis were socialists, right?
NC, do you know who the Nazis persecuted and hated first besides the Jews? Communists and trade unionists. Obviously they were not what we would think of today as "socialists."
Evil, always will be on this planet. This is just another example.We are all Gods people,Hate and Racism are two building blocks that Satan likes to use . Weak minded humans fall for this way of thinking since the beginning of time .Its a way to fit in, be part of a group . Now this( hate at soccer games) is now taking whats called a beautiful Game, and making soccer look ugly . That's just great... What you should do owners, video tape fans that fight,hate ,disrupt ,make a record of this, and in future games don't allow them in the stadium.it works for American Football (NFL) ,,,,or are they afraid they would lose profits ?
We never ask the right questions. Why did Hitler single out the Jews? Why not the French, English or Polish people?
Not to long ago the Serbians singled out the muslims and Bosnia became a nightmare. But, if you go back four-hundred years, the muslims had committed the same atrocities to the Serbians. So the Serbians never forgot. We say this alot in our country "Never forget"
Maybe the Germans do not want to forget what happened to them a long time ago.
What happened to them a long time ago? Are you refering to the Roman invasion?
"Never forget" is the motto of Hell.
the only good nazi is like Custer's definition for "indians"
oops - that was Sheridan
Move them to Texas and you would never notice anything different...
Texans hate Jews? Do Texans know that they supposedly hate Jews? You never hear about that.
Kinky Friedman is a famous Jewish Texan. He even goes by the moniker, the Texas Jewboy.