Ten years of self-exposure of the NSU: The reappraisal must continue


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Status: 04.11.2021 2:48 p.m.

Racist thought structures prevented investigations into the right direction in the murders of the NSU. And not everything has been cleared up for a long time. Possible confidants could still hide in the dark. from Michael Götschenberg.

A comment by Michael Götschenberg, ARD terrorism expert

Ten years ago today it became obvious to everyone: the monstrous threat posed by right-wing terrorists in our country. Nobody had seen them: the failure of the security authorities was palpable and is still not really understandable to this day. How was it possible that the NSU trio could murder so many people in cold blood over so many years?

The responsibility for this failure was primarily blamed on the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which quickly came into focus because files were shredded in the Federal Office. The failure and lack of professionalism were undeniable. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution hadn’t seen what it should have seen. There is nothing to gloss over. But the failure was greater: the police, the judiciary and the media also have their share of the overall responsibility.

Racist thought structures

The media established the term “kebab murders” or adopted it. Racist thought structures meant that the murderers were not searched for where they were, namely in violent right-wing extremism.

A lot has happened since then. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has reorganized itself and has been quite successful in uncovering right-wing terrorist structures in recent years. There are different rules for the recruitment and management of informants, the exchange of information has been put on a new basis.

Beate Zschäpe, the only survivor of the NSU trio, was sentenced to life imprisonment and received her just punishment.

The fact that other defendants were released after the trial was over was indeed difficult to bear. It was not a matter of course that this mammoth process could even be brought to an end – however unsatisfactory the result may be for the bereaved.

Confidants and supporters

Numerous questions that they ask themselves to this day remain unanswered – above all the central question: Why were these victims selected? Numerous parliamentary committees of inquiry have achieved a great deal, but have not been able to answer all open questions. There are still rooms that are dark, and one suspects that those who know about it and supporters are still hiding in this darkness to this day. A cartel of silence protects them.

What remains is the hope that at some point one of them will be ready to unpack and turn on the light. Regardless of this, the processing must continue as long as there are open questions. Parliaments, the media and security authorities have a duty here. The attacks in Hanau and Halle and the murder of Walter Lübcke make it clear how great the threat posed by violent right-wing extremism is to this day. To oppose it is a task for society as a whole.

Commentary on the NSU

Michael Götschenberg, ARD Berlin, November 4, 2021 1:24 p.m.

Editorial note

Comments generally reflect the opinion of the respective author and not that of the editors.

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