Last but not least: Nazis eager to donate
Unusual fundraising campaign: The «Rechts gegen Rechts» initiative turned a neo-Nazi march into a charity run, raising money for the organization Exit, which helps people leave extremist groups.
Once a year, the German town of Wunsiedel involuntarily becomes the focus of public attention: former Nazis and neo-Nazis organize their annual funeral march there to commemorate Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess. He was buried in Wunsiedel until 2011. As the town had grown tired of its role as a Nazi pilgrimage site, the grave was closed and Hess' remains exhumed. The desired effect did not materialize; the place had long since established itself as a place of pilgrimage - with or without the grave.
In an effort to get rid of the uninvited guests, Wunsiedeln took a new, creative approach this year and turned the neo-Nazi funeral march on 15.11.2014 into Germany's most involuntary charity run. For every meter covered by the Nazis, ten euros were donated to Exit donated. The initiative helps people who want to break with right-wing extremism and build a new life for themselves.
The march route was not only decorated with encouraging banners ("If only the Führer knew!"), but the intermediate donation levels were also neatly painted on the road. In order to strengthen the involuntary fundraisers, a refreshment stand ("Mein Mampf!") with bananas was even set up along the way.
At the end of the route, the donations of 10,000 euros were celebrated with confetti - and the hard-working "sports fans" were thanked for their help:
It remains to be seen whether the town will succeed in banning the mourners from Wunsiedel in future. At the very least, the campaign "Right against the right" the attractiveness of the city from a right-wing perspective. (hae)
