Dieser Text auf DEUTSCH
Brown Networks in Austria
There is some commotion to be noted in the brown swamp in Austria: prompted by unrest from the rank-and-file up to the top of Free Democratic Party FPOe, activities within the (Neo-)Nazi scene are increasing. In April 2002, authorities allowed a Neo-Nazi march on Vienna 'Heldenplatz' (Heroes' Square) which was co-organized by nationalist fraternity members sympathizing with FPOe. On May 8 - the Day of Liberation (from the Nazis)-, former cadres of VAPO banned in the early 90ies, e.g. Marcus Ullmann (as one of the stewards), several fraternity members, and FPOe lawyer Ewald Stadler bemoaned Nazi criminals whom they hold in high esteem. The Austrian Neo-Nazi scene partly acts overtly with marches, pamphlets, and more or less embarassing web activities, as well as covert activities, but always in close contacts to FPOe.
At the beginning of August 2002, police raided a Neo-Nazi cell called SS- Kampfgemeinschaft (fighting community) Prince Eugen and found a huge pile of arms. Further raids resulted in finding Nazi propaganda materials, plans, and explosives. The Neo-Nazis' public field of activities was the Doeblingen Initiative of Car-Owners' Rights (DIAR) which, according to them, was "founded in 1991 by a circle of ten 'Kameraden' who had been politically active before in the right scene". Under the slogan of "Aggression is our Success" and financed by "substantial own capital" and "donations", they apparently had enough money to buy arms, ammunition, and explosives.
Connections to FPOe
Head of DIAR/SS "Kampfgemeinschaft" seems to have been Georg Gasser, known for extreme aggressiveness, who died in June 2002. Gasser - who by the way was a member of FPOe until 2000 - started his Neo-Nazi career during the late 70ies with Aktion Neue Rechte (ANR - Action New Right) and, together with a certain Wolfgang Haberler, was a board member of Vienna Round Table, a fraternity which was seen as too radical even within the extreme right. Haberler today is not only Vice Chairman of FPOe in Lower Austria and Member of the City Council in Vienna-Neustadt, but is also wellknown for his extremely friendly relationship to the Neo-Nazi scene. In 1988, e.g., he wrote an article about the 'pernicious effects' of the "Dictate of Saint Germain" in the extremist magazine "Der Voelkerfreund" (friend of the peoples); in 1990, he allowed a group of youths called "Sturmgruppe Ost" to use FPOe premises where they produced posters saying "Austria was German, is German, and will remain German". In 1994, he sang the "Horst- Wessel-Song" and other Nazi songs during a summer solstice party. He also organized transports of arms to Croatia and proudly had his photo taken in a trench - all this apparently are prerequisites for a quick and successful career within FPOe.
In connection with SS-Kampfgemeinschaft Prince Eugene, evidence was also found against Vienna FPOe politician Wolfgang Froehlich. It has to be doubted that authorities are eager to get hold of Froehlich, since Froehlich, a notorious denier of the holocaust, is able to spread his propaganda from Austria per mail - despite a warrant which has been issued against him two years ago. Froehlich, the author of a pamphlet called "The gas-chamber lie", has his mail delivered to an address in Austria, and may freely withdraw money from an account which he set up to gather donations.
Rightwing extremists within the juridical system
Not only FPOe keeps good contacts to the Neo-Nazi scene, there are also members of the system who sing a German song. One well-known example is Harald Eisenmenger. The General Attorney, also known under his frat name "Wahnfried", started his nationalist engagement with the Circle of Free Students (RFS) and was a member of European Fraternity Arminia Zuerich in Vienna. The Arminia was organised in the so-called Delegate Convent of European Corporations (DCEC), same as the above mentioned Vienna Round Table. Eisenmenger was a member of above mentioned ANR together with Gasser; both were active in this organization until it dissolved itself, anticipating an official ban. Apparently, such a past is no hindrance for one's career - quite contrary: Eisenmenger in his capacity as a General Attorny was able to douse the informers' affair against Haider and Co.
Nationalist Accom
Another activist of Vienna Round Table was Wilhelm Ehemayer who shares a few aspects of his curriculum vitae with Gasser. Gasser was also an active member of Ehemayer's National Conservative Union (NAKU) which during the latest national elections called voters to vote for FPOe. Ehemayer is also a former functionary of RFS student organisation. On April 13, 2002, Ehemayer held a speech at a Neo-Nazi rally against the Wehrmacht exhibition. Ehemayer also owns a house in a Vienna neighbourhood together with former VAPO chairperson Gottfried Kuessel who finished his time in prison early. Kuessel there operates a "national bio-food shop" under the name "Naturnah" (close to nature).
But also other well-known fascists may be found in this house, like e.g. Stefan Tanzcos who also used to be a member of VAPO. Extremist projects are getting promoted, like "nationalist" help for this year's flood victims (after all, there's 'Kameraden' affected, like an anonymous "family from the town of Langenlois" who get mentioned in a pamphlet). Their list of supporters makes for interesting reading material: one will find several well-known extremist organisations, like Ehemayer's Initiative for Environment and Culture, the Vienna Round Table, the highschool student fraternity Germania in Vienna, and also several companies owned by fascists (like Tanzcos & Pirzl KEG Electronics Equipment, and Oberda und Zeidl KEG - Helmut Zeidl being a former board member of Vienna Round Table -, and Kuessel's bio-shop). Other entries on this list are Melzer's Copyshop (Melzer is an FPOe politician), and last not least: the Ministry of the Interior.
Ehemayer maintains good contacts to Horst Jakob Rosenkranz, editor of magazine "Fakten" (facts). Until 1991, no less than five board members of this magazine were members of VAPO, among them Stefan Tanzcos. Rosenkranz by the way is married to FPOe vice chairperson, Barbara Rosenkranz, who publicly admitted she proof-reads her husband's articles.
Great times for bomb builders
Acitivist from SS Kampfgemeinschaft Prince Eugene are not the only ones fond of explosives, as was revealed by the recently made public case of Stefan Topitz from the town of Linz who got severely injured in an attempt to build a bomb. Topitz attempted to portray himself as "a-political", however, NS propaganda material found at his place as well as his personal history give quite a different evidence: Topitz had close contacts to NSDAP/AO and US Nazi organisation National Alliance whose late Fuehrer William Pierce wrote "the" handbook of terror of the fascist scene, the "Turner Diaries" which might have supplied ideas for the assault in Oklahoma.
A case which received only short-time media attention was that of another bomb builder: the 22-year-old son of Carinthian school inspector, Heiner Zechmann, who admits being close to FPOe. Meanwhile, there are decided attempts to play down and de-politicize the case; the bomb builder has been confined to a psychiatrist institution, nobody mentions that he comes from one of the best known traditionally rightwing extreme families in Carinthia. Daddy Zechmann was not only in-famous for racist and anti- semitic slogans in class, also Grandfather Heinrich Zechmann was head of NDSAP-Gauamt and later on one of the founders of FPOe. Even Zechmann Jr's contacts to the skinhead scene, mentioned only initially, have been hushed up meanwhile, same as particulars about the construction of the bomb: it was a pipe bomb containing nails, and this aims at killing the highest possible number of persons, therefore such bombs have been used by Neo- Nazi organisations like the English terror organisation Combat 18 against political opponents and social groups unpopular witht them.
Revival
These recent cases show that the official Austrian version of the rightwing extreme / Neo-Nazi scene being less than marginal is nothing but a hoax. Many proponents simply have retreated from overtly Neo-Nazi organisations into organisations dominated by or close to FPOe - so e.g. vast parts of banned VAPO's membership joined nationalist fraternities - in order to continue their propanda there and be able to get into important positions in state and juridical systems with the help of old buddies' networks established in this party. But as FPOe participates in the national government since the year 2000, increased Neo-Nazi activities can be noted also outside of FPOe and organisations related to this party. An increase in assaults against migrants, left persons, and their structures has to be noted. It becomes more and more obvious that it is necessary to resist these activities.
Smash Fascism!
Dieser Text auf DEUTSCH
