Archive/File: fascism SWC.oprep Last-modified: 1993/05/02 This is the beginning of a nine part report on the infiltration of neo-Nazi groups in Germany by operatives from the Simon Wiesenthal Center. They were sent by Rick Eaton of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. THE OPERATION Between October 1992 and April 1993, the Simon Wiesenthal Center conducted a covert operation to determine the strength, financial base, and ultimate leadership of Germany's neo-Nazi movement. Center officials also wanted to find out the links between Germany's radical right and similar organizations in the United States, and to determine the degree of commitment on the part of German police towards the enforcement of laws passed by the German parliament over the years to thwart the resurgence of Nazism in the Bundesrepublik. The operation was conducted over four separate trips. Yaron Svoray, an Israeli freelance journalist (without the Israeli accent) whose parents fled Europe during the early days of the Nazi tyranny, flew to Germany on behalf of the Simon Wiesenthal Center under his own name and passport. Immediately upon leaving the airport, however, he assumed the persona of Ron Furey, an Australian journalist seeking to interview leading members of Germany's neo-Nazi movement for the (non-existent) rightist publication, The Right Way. Furey/Svoray had been provided with a list of leading German radicals who were to be interviewed if possible, but was told that if he came across others, they were not to be dismissed out-of-hand as unimportant. (See entries for Wolfgang Juchem and Roy Godenau) Because Ron Furey was essentially unacquainted with the neo-Nazi movement, both here and abroad, he was given a crash course by the research department before he left. Phone contact was maintained throughout the operation. Ron Furey's behavior over the phone was evaluated by the Center's staff. Since his safety was of primary concern, any hint over the phone that his cover might be wearing thin would have triggered a decision to pull him out. Meanwhile, the Center's research staff and graphic designer backed Ron's cover by creating various forms, stationery, etc., for The Right Way, should his background be checked by anyone suspicious of his story. (See entry for Weber) After speaking with a German journalist, Ron Furey learned the address of Heinz Reisz (see entry) in Langen. Reisz had been given some press recently about his role in the radical right. Ron Furey simply rang Reisz's doorbell and introduced himself as an Australian journalist seeking an interview. During the interview, Furey dropped hints that he was more than a reporter - he was a supporter of the right with powerful connections in the United States. He wanted to do more than report about the radical right, he wanted to polish up its image so that it could gain respectability. To do this, he would need to interview the leadership of the far right and eventually meet "respectable" supporters of the movement, not simply the classical street thug stereotype. A quick friendship developed between Ron Furey and Heinz Reisz. Slowly, as his trust in Furey grew, Reisz began introducing him to other members of the far right. As it turns out, Reisz plays no real leadership role. He does, however, seem to know everyone in the far right and acts as an ambassador of good will among the factionalized movement. That turned out to be the key that would unlock the doors of the neo-Nazi leadership to the Center's research staff. When Ron Furey returned and was debriefed, he was made aware of the importance of strengthening his relationship with Reisz. Before returning to Germany, he was provided with Holocaust denial literature, tapes, and Nazi paraphernalia to give to Reisz as an expression of his friendship and good will. Reisz took the bait. He and Ron Furey were soon driving across Germany to meet one neo-Nazi activist after another. The interviews were taped - some openly, some secretly. They were overnighted back to the Center for transcription and analysis. End of Part I Part II of the SWC Infiltration Report Yaron was on live TV nationally in Germany last night and we received a call this morning from a member of the Parliament who wants to take up our call for investigations. We have offered the German government any assistance, including ourselves for debreifing, but they have been silent except for a statement quoting their old figures on the strength of the movement. Ron Furey's persona had now taken on an extra dimension. Lavishing dinners, drinks, and gifts on the individuals he met, he let it be known that he was fronting for a multi-millionaire living in the United States, who were interested in funding Germany's neo-Nazi movement. Returning to the United States, Ron Furey was again debriefed by S.W.C. staff. It was now apparent, however, that he would either have to produce his multi-millionaire sponsor for his neo-Nazi contacts on his next trip, or lose his credibility with them just as the pieces of the puzzle were coming more closely together. After lengthy discussion, it was decided that Richard Eaton, a seven-year veteran of the Center's research department would play that role. Eaton's work monitoring white supremacist and other extremist groups in the United States was a major plus. He would certainly know what questions to ask, and just as important - what answers to give. Made over to look the part, Eaton accompanied Ron Furey to Munich where rooms in an upscale hotel, booked on short notice, awaited their arrival. Impressed by Mr. Eaton's apparent wealth and Ron Furey's performance as his subservient lackey, Wolfgang Juchem and Roy Godenau (see separate entries) agreed to Mr. Eaton's request to meet various other leaders of the radical right (see entries for Roeder and Schoenborn) and living icons of the movement (see entries for Krause, Rost van Tonningen, Burwitz, and Goering). As the same time, Eaton told his new acquaintances how important it was for him to know that his money would be going to a movement that had the support of "middle Germany," i.e. doctors, teachers, and other professionals. Meetings with such individuals were quickly arranged. (See entries for Schenk, Klaren, Hammelback, and Walz) One of the most intriguing pieces of information gathered on this trip came out in a discussion between Roy Godenau, Richard Eaton, and Ron Furey while traveling by car to Bielefeld. Roy Godenau, who claims to travel the world selling antisemitic/anti-masonic literature published in Argentina by one Juan Maler, confided that Maler is really one Reinhard Kopps, a former Abwehr (World War II German military intelligence) officer who, Godenau relates, participated in "cleaning out" partisans in Albania. Kopps reached South America via the "ratline." He had escaped an allied internment camp, and took a list of other Abwehr agents throughout the world with him before making his way to Argentina. A good number of these agents were assigned to the Middle East where some apparently still live. Suggesting that his publishing company might be interested in translating Kopps/Maler's literature for the English-speaking world, Eaton convinced Godenau to try to arrange a meeting between Kopps/Maler and himself. Kopps was quickly contacted by Godenau and the trip was arranged. End of Part II Part III of the SWC Operation Report During the first week of April 1993, Mr. Eaton flew to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina where he met with Kopps for approximately 10 hours over three separate sessions. Kopps, who styles himself as the sage of the movement, maintains links with both the moderate and radical right throughout the world. The former Abwehr agent told Mr. Eaton that he not only reached South America via the "ratline" but had, in fact, worked for the organization out of an office in the Vatican which, he claims, had appointed him "secretary for refugees." In discussions about the logistical and legal difficulties in funneling funds to neo-Nazi groups in Germany, Kopps provided Eaton with a letter of introduction to a contact in Luxembourg who could be trusteed to safely launder and distribute those funds. Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Eaton joined Ron Furey in contacting Roy Godenau who had expressed Mr. Juchem's concern over not having received any of the promised funding. Both Eaton and Furey contacted Godenau by phone informing him that on April 20th, Hitler's birthday, both he and Juchem would be convinced of their sincerity. End of Part III Part IV of the SWC Operation Report FINDINGS A. Enforcement of laws 1. Germany has passed a series of laws over the years to prevent attempts at Nazi revivalism. These laws are not always enforced, however. In some cases, neo-Nazis have actually been tipped off in advance about impending police raids. Such is the case of Heinz Reisz, who told Ron Furey that an official in Hesse's state police (whose name he does not even know) has saved him considerable trouble by warning him that the police were on the way. (See entry "Deep Throat") 2. Constantin Mayer leads the Dresden area cell of the "Nationale Offensive," a group that was recently banned by the government. Although Mayer says he is under constant surveillance, he says he has cordial relations with the police and conducts his business with them "with a wink and a nod." (See entry Constantin Mayer) 3. Reisz's brother-in-law operates a video studio in Langen which produces Nazi propaganda. Yet the studio continues to operate. (See entry D. Warmt) 4. One woman, a retired police inspector, was presented by Wolfgang Juchem to Ron Furey and Rick Eaton as an example of his support among respectable Germans. (Juchem is seeking to take over and unify all of Germany's right wing.) (See entry Sigrid Schenk) 5. One neo-Nazi leader, Meinolf Schoenborn, has been raided by the police on several occasions. They've obtained his computerized membership list - a phoney, prepared in advance from a local phone directory to confuse the authorities. (See entry for Meinolf Schoenborn) B. ESTIMATES OF NEO-NAZI MEMBERSHIP The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is the official German government agency which monitors the activities of the radical right. Its estimates of membership in various neo-Nazi organizations in Germany are low. For example: 1. The Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, run by notorious neo-Nazi Friedhelm Busse, is estimated by the Office for Protection of the Constitution at 150 members. Yet while ingratiating himself with Busse, Ron Furey was shown Busse's list - 980 members. Busse even claims he has thrown out another 150 for alcoholism. (See entry for Friedhelm Busse) 2. While the government estimates that another group, the Nationale Offensive, has 100 members, Ron Furey found out that the Dresden area cell alone has 150. (See entry for Mayer) 3. Meinolf Schoenborn's "Nationalistic Front," which is also banned, is estimated at 130 members. Schoenborn claims an infrastructure of 8,600. Even if Schoenborn is overdoing it, it is apparent from information obtained through an interview between Ron Furey and Schoenborn that the 130 figure is overly conservative. (See entry for Schoenborn) Furthermore, the image of the supporters of the radical right does not always conform to the street-thug stereotype. (See entries for Juchem, Schenk, Klaren, Hammelback, Marliany, Walz) C. NAZI LEADERSHIP Many names have been given by the press and the German government over the years as the top Nazi leadership. Some of these people, however, are not in the leadership positions they once were. The most significant find of the trip was that one Wolfgang Juchem, who has a squeaky-clean record and 30 years of service to his country, is considered by many to be the odds-on favorite to restore the radical right's tarnished image. (see entry for Wolfgang Juchem) D. INTERNATIONAL LINKS 1. The Center attached an answering machine to a cold line announcing to any potential caller that he or she had reached The (fictional magazine) Right Way. This was done to provide credibility to Ron Furey's cover should anyone decide to check up on his persona as a journalist. On Friday, February 12, 1993, that phone rang - it was Mark Weber of the Institute for Historical Review, the notorious organization dedicated to the proposition that the gas chambers of Auschwitz are a myth. He had called to obtain a copy of The Right Way. Now, the only people who knew that number were Ron Furey, the Center's senior research staff, and the neo-Nazis in Germany to whom it had been given. Furthermore, several of these people claimed to know Weber quite well. (See entries for Kempkens, Godenau, Weber, and Carto), 2. Roy Godenau's contacts with Iraq and Khadaffi (see entry for Godenau). 3. Reinhard Kopps, a former Abwehr (World War II German military intelligence) officer who worked for, and escaped to South America via the "ratline," maintains links with the radical right throughout the world. Kopps, who employs Godenau, (see entry) provided Mr. Eaton with a letter of introduction to a contact in Luxembourg who could be trusted to launder and distribute funds to various neo-Nazi groups in Germany. Kopps also suggested that Mr. Eaton consider employing Mark Weber (see entry) for a separate project. End of Part IV Part V of the SWC Operation Report PERSONALITIES ALTHANS, B. EWALD From contacts established by Ron Furey, it is obvious that Ewald Althans is not the neo-Nazi leader that the press has, over the years, made him out to be. Though intelligent and well- spoken, Althans' extravagant lifestyle and sexual preference have made him a pariah within the movement. When Furey asked the neo- Nazi leadership about the possibility of meeting with Althans, several simultaneously answered, "We don't want another Michael Kuhnen." (Kuhnen, a one-time major leader of Germany's neo-Nazis, died of AIDS while in prison.) Althans, however, is apparently not totally out of favor with the Carto organization (see separate entry). He has attended two of the most recent conventions of the Institute for Historical Review. While Althans has been played up in the past, it is obvious that he has fallen from grace. BURWITZ, GUDRUN Gudrun Burwitz is the daughter of one-time SS Chief, Heinrich Himmler. Roy Godenau (see separate entry) tried to secure an appointment for Ron Furey with Gudrun Burwitz for an interview for The Right Way. Though an icon of the neo-Nazi movement, Burwitz is reluctant to speak to anyone either about her father or her political views because her husband is vehemently opposed to any such discussions. Nevertheless, Gudrun Burwitz consented to speak with Ron for a few minutes over the phone, where she expressed her satisfaction with his involvement "in the movement." Gudrun Burwitz is a close friend of Florrie Rost van Tonningen (see separate entry). BUSSE, FRIEDHELM Friedhelm Busse is a veteran of Germany's radical right. In 1971 Busse founded the People's Socialist League Party of Labor. Busse has spent time in prison for inciting racial hatred. Today he is the leader of Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (F.A.P.) which declares as its aim, the realization of national socialism. Reisz introduced Furey to Busse, who was also taken in by Furey's performance. Busse showed Furey his membership list of 980 names and addresses. This is very significant because the government has put Busse's membership at less than 200. Busse has particular power with German skinheads. He believes in the use of violence and has discussed various "actions" with Ron Furey. He is an admirer of Hitler, denier of the Holocaust, and an advocate of overthrowing the government. Busse has relationships to the icons of the movement (the offspring of the leadership of the Third Reich) and is a powerful speaker...filmed with Furey by CBS camera crew. Busse's weakness, however, is that is headstrong and totally unadaptable. He cannot change his image as a hardened Nazi, and it is this inflexibility which will probably prevent him from uniting and taking over Germany's radical right. Busse's F.A.P., however, continues to grow with Germany's economic woes, is prone to violence, and is a force to be reckoned with. CARTO, WILLIS Willis Carto is the most influential professional antisemite in the United States. He is the founder of Liberty Lobby, the Institute for Historical Review, the Noontide Press (which distributes a wide range of racist and antisemitic titles), and the Populist Party, whose 1988 Presidential candidate was David Duke. Carto's name came up in nearly every conversation held between Ron Furey, S.W.C. researcher, Richard Eaton, and the neo- Nazis. Literature produced by the Carto organization is widely read by German's radical right. In addition, several of those interviewed know Mr. Carto personally. (see entries for Godenau and Rost von Tonningen) CHRISTOPHERSEN, THIES Thies Christophersen maintains a relationship with the Carto organization (see separate entry) which distributes his materials. A notorious antisemite, Christophersen avoided a jail term for antisemitic activities in Germany by making his way to Denmark, where he now lives. Christophersen was not interviewed on this trip, but his name was brought up by Meinolf Schoenborn (see separate entry) who is also considering moving to Denmark where he and Christophersen can join forces in helping to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a 4th Reich in Germany. "DEEP THROAT" Heinz Reisz (see separate entry) gets advance warning of police raids on his operation from a sympathetic official within Hesse's state police. Reisz, himself, does not know who his benefactor is, but the raids of which he was warned did, in fact, take place. It is reasonable to assume that "Deep Throat" must be fairly high up within the department to have access to this kind of information. DEGRELLE, LEON Leon Degrelle achieved the rank of SS general while in the service of Adolf Hitler as leader of the "Walloon Legion" (Belgian SS). Condemned to death after the war by a court in his native Belgium, Degrelle escaped to Spain where he remains active as a Nazi apologist. Praising Hitler as "the greatest genius of all time," Degrelle lectures positively about the SS and is the author of equally positive articles and books about the SS which are published and distributed in the United States by the Institute for Historical Review (see separate entry for Willis Carto). Video tapes featuring Degrelle's Nazi apologetics were viewed by Ron Furey in the video production facilities of D. Warmt, brother-in-law of Heinz Reisz (see separate entries for both). Although no meeting took place between Mr. Degrelle and Simon Wiesenthal Center researchers, the name of his "go-between" was learned - Erich Norling. GELLER, OTTO A native of Germany now living in Ventura, California. Otto Geller was named by Juchem as an American connection. GODENAU, ROY (REAL NAME: ARMSTRONG) Roy Godenau is a former G.I. who was stationed in Germany in the 70's. He is married to a German woman, a fact which he feels has prevented the government from deporting him. Godenau has been unemployed for the better part of the last 10 years. He is a walking encyclopedia of Nazism and believes in classical Jewish and freemason conspiracy theories. Godenau comes from Washington state where he attended school. Godenau has very negative feelings toward the United States and more than anything else, wants to be a German - something the radical right is not prepared to do. Godenau uses his American passport to travel the world selling antisemitic and anti-masonic literature written and published by one Juan Maler of Argentina. Godenau claims that Maler is Reinhold Kopps (see separate entry). Godenau played a role in the attempted overthrow of Surinam. During "Desert Storm," he was put under house arrest by the German government for allegedly supplying Iraq with information on NATO tank movements on the Turkish border. Godenau has extensive contacts with both the Iraqi and Libyan governments and actually tried to enlist Ron Furey to join up. He claims to have attempted to sell atomic secrets to various governments and says if it will hurt U.S. interests, he will forgo payment. Godenau claims to communicate with Willis Carto (see separate entry) and Mark Weber (see separate entry) who is in Carto's employ. In fact, Weber called The Right Way, (actually a cold phone line at the Center) to authenticate Ron Furey's credentials. Since there is no The Right Way and the cold line number was given out only to neo-Nazis in Germany, we are convinced that Godenau was telling the truth about his connections to the Carto organization. Godenau also knows David Duke, Tom Metzger, and Ernst Zuendel. Although Godenau's ideas may be considered to be those of a crackpot, he speaks calmly with authority, eloquence, and sincerity. Most important, he is Wolfgang Juchem's right-hand man and exerts very strong influence on him. End of Part V Part VI of the SWC Operation Report GOERING, EDDA Edda Goering is the daughter of notorious Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering. Although no meeting with her could be arranged, her close friend, Florrie Rost van Tonningen (see separate entry) confirmed that Goering remained a strong supporter of the neo- Nazi movement. Edda Goering takes part in memorials for Nazi war criminals and is highly respected within the movement because her father cheated the hangman by taking his own life. GRABER, RUDOLF Rudolf Graber was the Bishop of Regensburg before his recent retirement. Manfred Roeder (see separate entry) told Ron Furey and Richard Eaton that Bishop Graber had actually provided him with office space and requested from him an assortment of anti- masonic literature. HAMMELBACK (HAMMELBACH, HAMMELBECK), PROF. W.G. W. G. Hammelback was one of several people presented by Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support among average German citizens. Hammelback told Ron Furey and Richard Eaton that Juchem is "honest, truthful, and clean" and inspires confidence with his leadership ability. Hammelback arranges and addresses seminars which draw an average of 30 people at a time. These seminars attract people from all walks of life. The ultra-right-wing message is cleverly cloaked at these seminars in discussions about ecology and the environment (see entry for Weidner). Hammelback claims to be a past- president of a group calling itself the "World League for the Preservation of Life." JUCHEM, WOLFGANG Wolfgang Juchem was the biggest single find of Ron Furey's trip. Unlike the other stars of German's radical right, Juchem has a squeaky-clean record and in fact has served his country for 30 years - both with the army and with intelligence as a spymaster. Juchem maintains good relations with the leadership of Germany's "respectable" right wing parties, is good-looking, personable, and eloquent. Juchem is viewed positively by most of the radical right and is considered to have the best chance of unifying the entire movement. He is not the leader of any party nor has he thrown his hat in with any particular group. He has told Ron that he is waiting to see which of the radical parties emerges as the strongest; then he will make his move. Juchem claims an underground support group of 10,000, two thousand of which financially support his cause. Juchem has strong support of ethnic Germans who have arrived from neighboring countries and who were living in areas which were once part of Germany. He delivers frequent lectures and appears to be a good solid citizen whose only interest is the welfare of Germany. Juchem has told Ron Furey that the government is out to get him (although Center researchers could not find his name on official lists of known neo-Nazis) and that the Jews are behind German's current troubles. He has also confided to Furey his denial of the Holocaust and admiration of Adolf Hitler. Furey was able to bring Reisz, Busse, and Juchem together, where they were secretly filmed by a CBS crew. There they decided to create a center from which Nazi ideas could be disseminated throughout Germany. Juchem could be very dangerous. He is totally adaptable and will conform to any image that is needed to gain power. He was also able to produce for Ron Furey and S.W.C. researcher, Richard Eaton, a group of supporters from "middle Germany" -- ordinary citizens in respectable positions. The fact that he spent 30 years in the service of his country, also means that he has had plenty of time to develop relationships. He has, in fact, told Ron and Richard that such is indeed the case. Juchem is "clean" and has a power base. He may be the man to watch. KEMPKENS, WOLFGANG Kempkens, 53, has papers for both Canada and Germany. He once worked as a writer for Stars & Stripes. Kempkens told Ron Furey that he knows Mark Weber (see separate entry) "pretty well" and that he has contributed to the Journal of Historical Review (the publication of Willis Carto's Institute for Historical Review, which denies the Holocaust). Kempkens often travels to the former U.S.S.R. to try to buy archival material which might support the Holocaust revisionist stance. He is an apologist for the Third Reich and claims to be more to the right of the current neo-Nazi leadership. He maintains strong ties to other radicals throughout Europe and America. End of Part VI Part VII of SWC Operation Report KLAREN, DR. FRIEDRICH Dr. Friedrich Klaren was presented to Ron Furey and Richard Eaton by Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support among average German citizens. Klaren tells an eye- opening story about his wartime past. He says he was assigned by his company to spend two days at the Mauthausen concentration camp (near Linz, Austria) where he was involved in supervising inmates who worked in the camp's quarries. He claims that camp officials took extra measures to safeguard the health of quarry workers by outfitting them with devices to filter out mining dust as they breathed. After the war, Dr. Klaren (doctorate is in business administration) continued his career in quarry operations. Klaren has high regard for Juchem and is especially impressed with his abilities as an orator. He says he has attended meetings where groups of one hundred or more turned out to hear Juchem. Furthermore, Klaren feels that Juchem is precisely the kind of candidate who will find support in veterans' organizations. KLAUS, EWALD Ewald Klaus is a former member of the SS and, in fact admitted to having taken part in the notorious Malmedy massacre of American soldiers during the Battle of the Ardennes. Klaus served as a translator for Ron Furey's discussion with Frank Rennicke (see separate entry). Klaus Ewald, a minor player in the neo-Nazi movement, is an open Holocaust denier and booster of the Viking Youth. KOEBERICH, WILHELM Wilhelm Koeberich is also known by the code name "Kampfhahn" (fighting cock). Koeberich is the elder statesman of the neo- Nazi movement. During the Hitler era, Koeberich was sent to the Adolf Hitler School as a child prodigy. "Fighting cock" is a scrawny, fragile-looking individual and by appearance does not "look the part." Yet he is bright and quite crafty. He collects and distributes monies to the various neo-Nazi groups and is adaptable at playing more than one side of the fence at a time. There are two competing attempts to overthrow the current Republikaner leadership and take the party even further to the right (see entries for Thrun and Juchem). Koeberich is involved in both of them and neither group knows of the other! Koeberich is a virulent antisemite, Holocaust denier, and admirer of Adolf Hitler. Koeberich was secretly filmed by the CBS crew which accompanied Ron Furey. KOPPS, REINHOLD (AKA JUAN MALER) According to Roy Godenau (see separate entry) Reinhold Kopps was an intelligence officer serving with the Abwehr (German military intelligence) in Albania, where he was engaged in "cleaning out" partisans. After the war, Kopps worked out of the Vatican with the "ratline" before making good his own escape to South America. Kopps took a list of Abwehr officers stationed throughout the world with him. Kopps now lives as Juan Maler in the town of San Carlos de Bariloche near the Chilean border. Kopps/Maler is a publisher of anti-masonic and antisemitic materials who employs Godenau as a traveling salesman for his literature. Godenau has also admitted to "moving" money for Kopps, as well as serving as his go-between with other members of the Nazi movement in 52 countries. During the first week of April, 1993, S.W.C. researcher, Richard Eaton, flew to Argentina where he met with Kopps on three occasions. During one of these meetings, Kopps provided Eaton with a letter of introduction to a contact in Luxembourg who could be trusted to funnel large sums of money to various neo- Nazi groups in Germany. Interestingly, Kopps also recommended Mark Weber (see entry) to Mr. Eaton for a separate project. KRAUSE, KARL WILHELM As Hitler's personal valet and bodyguard, Karl Wilhelm Krause is viewed a major icon of the neo-Nazi movement. During his service with Hitler, Krause stuck so close to his boss that the Fuehrer nicknamed him his "shadow." Interviewed by Ron Furey and Richard Eaton, Krause offered insights into Hitler's personality - all of them positive. End of Part VII Part VIII of SWC Operation Report LEUCHTER, FRED Fred Leuchter, whose oft-touted credentials as an expert in execution hardware were recently discovered not to exist, is the author of the "Leuchter Report," a pseudo-scientific attempt to prove that no one was murdered in the gas chanbers of Auschwitz. Despite the fact that Leuchter was forced to admit to a Massachusetts court that he had misrepresented his credentials and expertise, the long-discredited "Leuchter Report" is still accepted by neo-Nazis as proof positive that the Holocaust is a hoax. MARLIANY, ERNST Ernst Marliany is a high school teacher and financial advisor. Although he is of Italian ancestry, his family has lived in Germany for centuries and is accepted by the radical right as German. Marliany is involved in Bernd Thrun's (see separate entry) attempt to overthrow the Republikaner leadership and to take it even more to the right. In fact, Marliany is Thrun's choice to assume that leadership role. Marliany claims to be a major in the German army reserves who has worked with security officers of the French and American armies. He has told Ron Furey that he is willing and able to launder money through his financial services. Marliany is viewed by most others within the movement as a big talker only. MUELLER, CURT AND URSULA This married couple lives near Mainz and runs the H.N.G. a radical Nazi "help group" founded in 1979. Curt Mueller is a recruiter of young neo-Nazis. He has confided to Ron Furey that he has taken part in "serious Nazi activities." He is a Holocaust denier and admirer of Hitler. Curt Mueller is viewed by other radicals as somewhat of a joke. That has not stopped him, however, from taking part in the beatings of foreigners. The Mueller home has a Nazi shrine which young would-be Nazis are encouraged to visit. MAYER, CONSTANTIN This 21-year-old former skinhead runs the Dresden office of the "Nationale Offensive," which continues to grow despite an official government ban. Mayer claims that his cell alone has 150 members. This is significant, because the government claims that the membership of the entire group nationwide is only 100. Mayer confided to Furey that although he is under constant surveillance, he has more than cordial relationships with the police - "We finish all our business with a wink and a nod." Mayer has confided that he is in contact with a former G.I. living in Munich, one Kelner Williams, who supposedly delivers money to the movement from the United States. Mayer also claims to be in close contact with members of the Viking Youth, an ultranationalist youth group which has yet to be banned, despite its similarities to the Hitler Youth. Mayer wants Jews and "other foreigners" out of the country. NEUBAUER, HARALD Harald Neubauer is a member of the European Parliament. Neubauer was contacted through Bernd Thrun (see separate entry) and was made aware of Ron Furey's "interest" in creating a neo- Nazi center in Germany. Neubauer sent a letter expressing his interest in discussing the matter. A meeting, however, could not be arranged as Neubauer claimed pressing business in Strasbourg. RENNICKE, FRANK Frank Rennicke is thought of as the "Elvis" of the radical right. He is a singer who has produced thousands of cassettes with ultranationalist themes. Some of these songs are accompanied by a chorus of the ultranationalist Viking Youth, with whom he works as an advisor and role model. Rennicke has confided his hatred of Jews and foreigners to Ron Furey. He has expressed his admiration of Hitler and his denial of the Holocaust, and admits that he imparts these sentiments to the impressionable youth with whom he works. REISZ, HEINZ Heinz Reisz does not play a major role in the neo-Nazi leadership. Despite the fact that the government has apparently made a "whipping boy" of him by suspending several of his political rights, Reisz's real importance lies in the fact that he knows most of the major players and is accepted by them as their go-between and ambassador-at-large. Reisz, in fact, sees himself as the movement's drum major and not its leader. Reisz was completely taken in by Ron Furey and not only introduced him to much of the neo-Nazi leadership but vouched for him as well. Reisz and Furey developed a very close and cordial relationship. He confided to Ron his strong admiration for Adolf Hitler, his revulsion toward Jews, and his denial of the mass murders at Auschwitz. ROEDER, MANFRED Manfred Roeder is not a newcomer to German's neo-Nazi movement. A founder of several radical groups, Roeder was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for charges related to the bombing of refugee hostels in 1980 in which two residents were killed. Ron Furey and Richard Eaton interviewed Roeder on March 8, 1993. Roeder spoke of his role with the P.L.O. and other terrorist groups, addding that he received financial assistance for his work from both American and South African sources. Roeder claimed that an "earthquake" would soon take place inside the German government. He, furthermore, stated that only a revolution can solve Germany's current woes. Roeder's interview also featured a litany of Jewish conspiracies. Roeder is a strong supporter of Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) whom, he says, visited him regularly while he was in prison. Although he feels Juchem is a very good man, Roeder told Ron and Richard that outright violence is still the best cure for Germany's ills. Among Roeder's credits is a group calling itself the Deutsche Buergerinitiative (Germay Citizen's Initiative), an extremist group dating back to 1971. ROST VAN TONNINGEN, FLORRIE Florrie Rost van Tonningen is the widow of notorious Dutch Nazi collaborator, Meinoud Rost van Tonningen. A leader of Holland's Nazi party and personal favorite of Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler (the former attended the van Tonningen wedding), Meinoud R.v. Tonningen was handpicked to run Holland's national bank during the German occupation. He committed suicide in 1945, before he could face trial as a traitor to his homeland. Now in her late seventies, Florrie Rost van Tonningen remains a committed Nazi and has in fact been twice convicted of inciting racial hatred by distributing antisemitic/Holocaust denial literature. Known as the "Black Widow," Florrie R.v.Tonningen caused an outcry in 1986 when it was discovered that she was using part of her state pension to finance a neo-Nazi party in the Netherlands. She has been a guest lecturer at conventions of the Institute for Historical Review and claims a close frienship with its founder, Willis Carto (see separate entry). Ron Furey and Richard Eaton drove to Florrie R. v. Tonningen's home in the Netherlands, accompanied by Roy Godenau (see separate entry). Rost van Tonningen, a major icon of the neo-Nazi movement, expressed strong support for Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as Germany's next fuehrer, admitted a role in the attempted overthrow of Surinam's government, and told of a secret neo-Nazi meeting to take place on March 22 in a Cologne suburb (sounding like "Eschenstein") at which she was to deliver an apparently illegal lecture. SCHENK, SIGRID Sigrid Schenk is a retired police inspector living in Minden. She was presented to Ron Furey and Richard Eaton by Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support among average German citizens. Schenk grew up in Nazi Germany and claims there was nothing negative about the Third Reich. She stated that Germans must be "reeducated" to make up for the 45 years of brainwashing done by the Allies. Schenk admires Wolfgang Juchem and considers him the best choice to bring Germany together. In the meanwhile, Sigrid Schenk claims leadership of a cultural society whose purpose is to present "an accurate view of the real way history happened." This club is said to have a membership of 300-500. End of Part VIII Part IX of SWC Operation Report SCHOENBORN, MEINOLF Meinolf Schoenborn is the leader of the Nationalistic Front, a radical group which has been declared illegal by the government. German officials put the group's membership at less than 150. Schoenborn, however, claims an "infrastructure" of 8,600 to Ron Furey. Schoenborn told Furey and Richard Eaton that he favors the overthrow of the government and is seeking the establishment of the 4th Reich. To avoid German government surveillance, however, Schoenborn wants to establish a center in nearby Denmark. Schoenborn has been raided by the authorities on several occasions but has confounded them by inputting phoney names on a computerized "membership list." Enthralled with meeting Richard Eaton, Schoenborn provided him with a wish list for his proposed Danish center and safe house services and items which will cost around a 1.5 million marks ($950,000,000). Schoenborn is strong, fearless and charismatic as well as given to violence. He targets youth between the ages of 16- 24...wants Jews and "other aliens" out of Germany. SKINHEADS On January 24, 1993, Ron Furey was introduced to major players in Germany's skinhead movement at a "safe house" in the Cologne suburb of Portz. Taking part in the discussion were Ron and nine skinhead leaders, most of whom identified themselves by first name only. These individuals included "Roland," "Eckhard," "Susanne," "Michael," "Eric," "Peter," "Jaschka," "Detlev," and Thomas Heinke. The skinhead leadership was well-acquainted with Holocaust denial literature and the players in the movement. They also stated their belief that Germany was the center of the white race and that they consider Jews a survival test for Christian society. "Jaschka" is a walking advertisement for the movement - his body is tattood with swastikas and similar symbols. The public display of the swastika in Germany is a criminal offense. Freidhelm Busse (see separate entry) is the father figure of the skinhead leadership. Although Busse is not ready to relinquish his power over them, Juchem (see separate inquiry) has confided that he intends to make use of their talents when the time comes. THRUN BERND Bernd Thrun of Mainz is a member of the Republikaner Party but is involved in a cabal to overthrow the current party leadership so it can be taken even further to the right. On the surface, however, Thrun is a solid party member - yet he is secretly involved with radical groups - forbidden by the Republikaner Party which wishes to avoid the neo-Nazi label. Thrun collects and distributes money to skinheads who volunteer to fight in Croatia (DM175 per month). he is a close associate of Heinz Reisz and a backer of Wolfgang Juchem. WALENDY, UDO Udo Walendy is a notorious Holocaust denier who, for years, has served on the advisory board of the Journal of Historical Review, the official publication of the Institute for Historical Review of Costa Mesa, California. (see entries for Mark Weber and Willis Carto) In their phone conversation, Walendy expressed interest in meeting Furey personally and in offering his assistance in the creation of a Nazi center in Germany. WARMT, D. D. Warmt is Heinz Reisz's brother-in-law. He once worked for Reuters but was let go, apparently for reasons of health. Warmt owns two video studios, one in Langen and the other in Mainz. His Langen operation is primarily engaged in producing Nazi propaganda films and videos. The studio in Mainz produces what Warmt terms "special films," i.e. porno flicks. Warmt's Langen operation produces materials that are apparently forbidden by German law, yet the studio continues to function. WEBER, MARK Mark Weber works for the Institute for Historical Review (Costa Mesa, California), one of several antisemitic organizations founded by Willis A. Carto. The I.H.R. devotes most of its time to spreading the bizarre notion that the Holocaust is wildly exaggerated and that the gas chambers of Hitler's death camps are a myth. In 1978, Weber was identified as the news editor of the National Vanguard, the publication of William Pierce's neo-Nazi group, the National Alliance. Weber's name came up in several conversations with German neo-Nazis, including Wolfgang Kempkens and Roy Godenau. As part of Ron Furey's cover, a "cold" phone line at the Simon Wiesenthal Center was attached to an answering machine informing the caller that he/she had reached The Right Way. That phone number was known only to the Center's senior research staff, Ron Furey, and the neo-Nazis to whom it was given. At 2:55pm on Friday, February 12, 1993, a man identifying himself as Mark Weber called the number, requested a copy of The Right Way, and left his P.O.B. address for mailing. The Center's graphics department sent him a colorful subscription application for the non-existent periodical, instead. This was apparently enough to satisfy Mr. Weber's curiosity because he soon acceded to Ron's request for a meeting. That meeting took place on February 27, 1993 at the Cafe Westminster in Westminster, California. It was filmed by a CBS camera crew stationed in a van outside. Mr. Furey spoke to Mark Weber at length about the "state of the movement" in Germany. To help establish his credibility, he showed Weber several photos picturing him and several German neo-Nazis together. Weber correctly identified them all. Weber soon felt comfortable enough to discuss the miserliness of his current employer and to ask about the possibility of finding work with The Right Way. He was also recommended by Reinhard Kopps (see entry) to Richard Eaton for a separate project. WEIDNER, NORBERT Norbert Weidner is a member of the Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (F.A.P.) run by Friedhelm Busse (see separate entry). Weidner runs the Bonn office of the group and is a regional spokesman for the skinhead movement. This 20 year-old has been involved in attacks on foreigners in Bonn and Cologne. Like other on the far right, Weidner is a Holocaust denier and admirer of Adolf Hitler. He has put his own touch on the movement, however, by appealing to environmental and ecological concerns - "A healthy land breeds healthy people." Weidner is a believer in a "greater Germany," whose borders conform with those of the Holy Roman Empire. Weidner and Furey met at a "safe house" in the Cologne suburb of Portz. WALZ, DORIS Doris Walz, a pharmacist married to a physician in Minden, was presented to Ron Furey and Richard Eaton by Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support among average German citizens. Doris Walz is totally enamored with Juchem and strongly feels that he enjoys the support of many Germans who fear voicing their sentiments in public. WILLIAMS, KELLNER Kellner Williams is an ex-G.I. now living in Munich. Williams, who apparently was a member of the KKK while stationed in Germany, was reached by phone by Ron Furey. Although Williams remained non-commital over the phone, Ron was given to understand that he was in position to facilitate the transfer of funds from the United States to special recipients in Germany. End of Part IX End of Report