Even in nightmares FRG nationals didn't see their future as the Third Reich successors. But as it became clear before the Victory Day, there is another side to Germany. And it's not some street Neo-Nazi hooligans, these are officers of the modern German Army. These were found in the Bundeswehr barracks, weapons with swastika and an entire exhibition of Wehrmacht decorations. That's what shocked the investigation, which is to be completed next week. Our correspondent Mikhail Antonov reports from Germany. Bundeswehr is going through pockets and personal belongings.
The reason for this all-out inspection is the case of a senior Lieutenant Franco A. He's been leading a double life for the past 1.5 years. In one life he was a successful army officer, in the other — son of a fruit salesman from Damascus. Under the disguise of a Syrian refugee registered in Hessen, with the help of at least two more people, on of which is his colleague Maximilian T., he planned to carry out a series of terrorist attacks to raise aggression towards immigrants among Germans. He was arrested after he tried to get his gun, which was hidden in a Vienna airport bathroom.
A maintenance employee found the gun and reported it to the police. During the investigation they learned that the officer's Neo-Nazi views could not have been a secret. In his graduation paper dated 2014 he put forward his Neo-Nazi ideas. He even scribbled a swastika on his gun's grip. The fact that soldier A. turned in his racist right-wing extremist paper, and his superiors didn't find it disturbing, means that rules aren't followed here and lines get crossed. In order to inspect Franco A.'s barrack personally, the German Minister of Defense cancelled her trip to the US. She was shocked to find an image of a Wehrmacht soldier and a model of MP 40 in the officer's room.
Wehrmacht is in no way the founder of Bundeswehr traditions. How did Wehrmacht exhibits get into this room? After that the Military Counterintelligence has been going through all Bundeswehr. There are results. For example, senior officials of a chasseurs battalion in Donaueschingen had an entire exhibition of ammunition and war decorations of the Third Reich by the entrance to the cafeteria. Supporting the public discussion of this problematic issue, Von der Leyen violated the main rule of a military corporation — not to foul your own nest and not to criticize the superiors in front of their subordinates.
Besides, a conflict with the high-ranking military officials doesn't rid the Minister of her personal responsibility. Minister of Defense Ursula Von der Leyen painted a pretty picture of the Armed Forces, however, none of the Bundeswehr issues were resolved. Von der Leyen has been Minister for 3.5 years. During this time, Bundeswehr has been accused of harassment of subordinates, sexual assaults, low military preparedness, and even of walkout to ISIS. Now there is the Nazi underground. The Military Counterintelligence suspects over 200 officers.
But on Friday, answering the direct question whether it was time to resign, the Minister said she'd do no such thing, but will take disciplinary measures instead. Angela Merkel promised her support. Mrs. Von der Leyen should be on alert, because everybody, who had the Chancellor's support in similar issues, ended up resigning.
