Left-Extremist Endeavours

Different motives for
international contacts
VIII. International Connections
German right-wing extremists have many and various contacts
with like-minded foreigners. In the skinhead scene, concerts with
internationally known bands provide the main opportunity for
meetings and exchanges of information. They are a preferred
marketplace for sound recordings of right-extremist music and for
fanzines.
Neo-Nazis hold demonstrations with like-minded foreigners in
neighbouring countries in order to dodge any bans imposed by
German authorities. But ideological indoctrination and maintenance
of contacts are important to them as well.
The main concern of right-extremist parties seems to be to give
the impression of well-functioning international co-operation by
having foreign delegations attend their congresses. In this way it
is hoped to enhance their profile in "foreign policy" terms and to
raise their repute.
1. International Meetings
The overall number of participants in international meetings of
right-wing extremists continued to decline. Nevertheless, some
events drew an audience from various European countries:
Hungary - As in the previous year, the neo-Nazi party "Hungarian National
Front" (MNA) and the skinhead group "Hungarian
Skins", who may be classed with the international "Blood &
Honour" movement, held a rally under the motto "Day of
Honour" in Budapest on 13 February. Some 500 participants
- including 120 to 150 German right-wing extremists - commemorated
the "Waffen-SS" who in February 1945 had attempted
to break out of the besieged city. At a skinhead
concert after the rally, clashes occurred between the rightextremist
concert-goers and the Hungarian police. Twentysix
participants, of whom 15 Germans, were detained. Warrants
of arrest were issued against three German skinheads;
two of them were given prison sentences suspended on probation.
Belgium - On 4 April, German right-wing extremists were prevented
from participating in an anti-NATO demonstration in front of
NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Previously 30 German
right-wing extremists had been taken into custody by the
police in the city of Brussels. The rally had been notified by a
"Komitee Europäischer Nationalisten gegen die NATO" ["Anti-
NATO Committee of European Nationalists"] which is masterminded
by the Belgian right-extremist group "DEVENIR".
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