Police protect Nazi sites from England fans
German police are to step up patrols around sites in Nuremberg associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis ahead of tomorrow's World Cup match between England and Trinidad & Tobago.
The move comes after England fans were seen making Nazi salutes from the podium where the dictator used to address National Socialist rallies in the 1930s.
Local police chief Gerhard Hauptmannl told authorities today: “We have kept close watch on this. We took the names and personal details of those who did this. We have submitted the matter to the public prosecutor, who will decide how to proceed.
“We will reinforce mixed teams of police officers, particularly in the vicinity of buildings that are symbolic of Nuremberg’s recent past.
“We hope the presence of police officers will deter people from repeating this kind of thing.
"We think these instances are mostly based on ignorance or stupidity of the people involved, sometimes resulting from the fact that their sense of humour on these matters seems to differ considerably from ours on this particular point.”
Making Nazi salutes is an offence in Germany.
German police are patrolling with English officers in the city.
Mr Hauptmannl said he was generally looking forward to policing England’s second World Cup match in a relaxed attitude after seeing how their fans behaved around the first match against Paraguay in Frankfurt last Saturday.
He said: “The attitude shown by the England fans in Frankfurt has confirmed me in the view that we can look forward to this game in a relaxed way.”
So far only one England fan has been arrested for a serious matter in Nuremberg. Mr Hauptmannl said he had allegedly punched a German in the mouth, damaging his teeth.
He said checks were being made to see whether the man had a criminal record for violence in the UK, and if this was the case, the prosecutor would ask a judge to keep him in custody for 48 hours until the match is over.
If he had no police record in the UK, he would be released.
Six other England fans who were held overnight after trying to climb over a fence at the stadium were released early today with no action against them.
Up to 70,000 England fans are expected in the southern city for the match, a similar number to those who gathered in Frankfurt for the Paraguay game.
The British Ambassador to Germany, Peter Torry, said he hoped England’s participation in the World Cup would help break down old stereotypes.
When an American journalist asked if leaflets telling England fans not to make Nazi salutes were really necessary, he said, in an apparent reference to Prince Harry’s notorious visit to a fancy dress party in Nazi regalia: “Things which in England are a bit of fun, like going to a fancy dress party dressed up in Nazi insignia, are criminal offences here.”
He added: “We are talking about a tiny percentage, out of 70,000 people who otherwise were a great credit to the country (in Frankfurt).”
Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Thomas, the senior British officer advising the Germans, said: “The leaflet is very helpful. Our supporters, like supporters all over the world, have a sense of humour.
“Sometimes, when that is combined with drink, it will become inappropriate, and they sing songs we would rather they did not, about the Second World War.”
England fans are hoping their side will build on the 1-0 win over Paraguay and qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament. There is one more group game to come after Trinidad, against Sweden in Cologne next Tuesday.
| Related Stories: |
|
