Has the collapse of the Third Reich paved the way for the rise of the Fourth Reich and why does the fire of hatred still burn?

Is Neo Nazism nothing but a farce or is it really threatening the secular image which Germany has for so long and so desperately been seeking in order to wash away the blood stains of the past. The recent furore in media regarding the trial of Beate Zschaepe, 38 has once again revived the past blurred memories of unimaginable atrocities. Highly controversial, potentially traumatic and definitely historical court hearing has begun in the Higher Regional Court of Munich. The trial has brought to light the secretive, deadly and ever expanding underground networking of Neo Nazism across Germany which breeds on hatred towards foreigners, and immigrants in particular. The execution style killings of eight Turks, one Greek mistaken as a Turk and one female police officer have shaken the conscience of the entire country and raise serious questions about the safety and security of foreigners in the so called multi cultural land. Amid these killing by a neo nazi group called the National Socialist Underground also responsible for several bombings that left many causalities as well as over 15 armed bank robberies in different parts of Germany between 2000-2007, the role of German intelligence agency in failing to timely detect the NSU which fearlessly remained active and undetected for 13 years has earned severe criticism from human rights quarters.

The lax attitude of Polizei and intelligence agencies towards these horrifying incidents and their cursory search and investigations quite 'amateurish' in nature have led to fear and feeling of vulnerability among immigrants at large. The apathy of former towards the threats of right wing along with a general disregard for the victims because they were foreigners, pose questions on the credibility and unprejudiced behaviour of the supposed guardians. Prosecutors say the purpose of these execution styled killings could very well be to spread fear among immigrants and prompt them to leave Germany as soon as possible. The killings which formerly went unnoticed suddenly gathered momentum thanks to the pressure built by the human rights' wing which led Angela Merkel to express her condolences to the family members of the victims and her reference to these murders as 'disgrace to Germany'.

What is even more harrowing is the fact that after so many decades of the ignominious Holocaust, its legacy still continues and the fumes of hatred are somewhere still present in the atmosphere to suffocate the non Germanic people. A question that often comes to mind is, in this day and age of globalization where the world has shrunk into a global village, why are Germans still resistant to multiculturalism? The breeding ground of the former East Germany continues to manufacture extremists at large and there is no stopping to it. Most of the victims being of Turkish origin, their deaths failed to create a ripple and went unreported in the media initially, but soon revelations that the masterminds behind such killings were members of Neo Nazi campaign who are anti ethnic Turks brought to the forefront the intolerant and unwelcoming temperament towards foreigners. Though a common German, in general, is very conscious of the past and leaves no stone unturned to integrate among the people of other nationalities but there remains a class of Germans, totally against the mingling up of pure blooded Aryans with outsiders.

Coming back to the killings by the alleged NSU, let's find out who are these neo Nazis? They are a mysterious group of psychopathic people nurturing sick mentality to inflict their terror among foreigners in Germany and disrupting peace in the name of nationalism. They prefer to work stealthily underground so as to strengthen their hidden network and expand their following by effectively planning political movements without ever being caught. The antecedents of their anti-Semitic views and ideals can be traced to Nazism itself, characterised by the sentiments of pseudo patriotism, racism, Holocaust denial, xenophobia, homophobhia (anti gays and lesbians), racial cleansing and the supremacy of the Aryan race above all. After the Second World War, Germany completely banned the use of hate speeches, display of Nazi symbols like Swastika and other Nazi beliefs and ideology. But the sudden resurfacing of the buried past has critically challenged the openness and acceptance of German society towards foreigners.

The trial has begun and the verdict is awaited. From humanitarian prospect we all demand that the Court sentences the perpetrators to severest punishments so as to dampen the spirits of all those who entertain such barbaric thoughts. What these so called Neo Nazis don't realise is, they can never be martyrs, they are and forever will be remembered as criminals. They are murderers and anti social elements in the eyes of law and in the eyes of society. Such dastardly acts can never lead to martyrdom. These inhumane killings are only tarnishing the name of Germany internationally and flushing down the great efforts of all those Germans who wish to get away with the blames of the past. Tolerance and acceptance are the pre-requisites for a brighter and better tomorrow. But what is exemplary is the integrity of the common Germans who came forward in this hour of crises to lend their support to the affected group and walked shoulder to shoulder with the aggrieved in demanding justice to the families of the victims. Various news channels showed footage of a big mob of Germans standing outside the Munich court carrying placards and chanting slogans against the villainy of Neo Nazis and the carefree conduct of investigation by the investigating agencies which led to delay in putting the convicts behind bars.

An ordinary German is as against racial killings as you and I, as for the psychos, I believe every society and every country is struggling with this menace.