Shofar FTP Archive File: orgs/american/wiesenthal.center/swc.oprep
Newsgroups: alt.skinheads,alt.revisionism,alt.politics.white-power
Subject: Holocaust Almanac - Wiesenthal Center's infiltration report
Summary: Ties between paleo-Nazis in Germany and Willis Carto's "Institute
for Historical Review" clearly shown by Simon Wiesenthal Center's
documented infiltration of the German Nazi movement. The trail
from German paleo-Nazis to Mark Weber & the IHR is clearly evident.
Reply-To: kmcvay@nizkor.org
Followup-To: alt.revisionism
Organization: The Nizkor Project
Keywords:
Archive/File: orgs/american/wiesenthal.center/swc.oprep
Last-modified: 1994/02/01
THE OPERATION
Between October 1992 and April 1993, the Simon Wiesenthal Center
conducted a covert operation to determine the strength, financial
base, and ultimate leadership of Germany's neo-Nazi movement.
Center officials also wanted to find out the links between
Germany's radical right and similar organizations in the United
States, and to determine the degree of commitment on the part of
German police towards the enforcement of laws passed by the
German parliament over the years to thwart the resurgence of
Nazism in the Bundesrepublik.
The operation was conducted over four separate trips. Yaron
Svoray, an Israeli freelance journalist (without the Israeli
accent) whose parents fled Europe during the early days of the
Nazi tyranny, flew to Germany on behalf of the Simon Wiesenthal
Center under his own name and passport. Immediately upon leaving
the airport, however, he assumed the persona of Ron Furey, an
Australian journalist seeking to interview leading members of
Germany's neo-Nazi movement for the (non-existent) rightist
publication, The Right Way. Furey/Svoray had been provided with
a list of leading German radicals who were to be interviewed if
possible, but was told that if he came across others, they were
not to be dismissed out-of-hand as unimportant. (See entries for
Wolfgang Juchem and Roy Godenau)
Because Ron Furey was essentially unacquainted with the neo-Nazi
movement, both here and abroad, he was given a crash course by
the research department before he left. Phone contact was
maintained throughout the operation. Ron Furey's behavior over
the phone was evaluated by the Center's staff. Since his safety
was of primary concern, any hint over the phone that his cover
might be wearing thin would have triggered a decision to pull him
out.
Meanwhile, the Center's research staff and graphic designer
backed Ron's cover by creating various forms, stationery, etc.,
for The Right Way, should his background be checked by anyone
suspicious of his story. (See entry for Weber)
After speaking with a German journalist, Ron Furey learned the
address of Heinz Reisz (see entry) in Langen. Reisz had been
given some press recently about his role in the radical right.
Ron Furey simply rang Reisz's doorbell and introduced himself as
an Australian journalist seeking an interview. During the
interview, Furey dropped hints that he was more than a reporter -
he was a supporter of the right with powerful connections in the
United States. He wanted to do more than report about the
radical right, he wanted to polish up its image so that it could
gain respectability.
To do this, he would need to interview the leadership of the far
right and eventually meet "respectable" supporters of the
movement, not simply the classical street thug stereotype. A
quick friendship developed between Ron Furey and Heinz Reisz.
Slowly, as his trust in Furey grew, Reisz began introducing him
to other members of the far right. As it turns out, Reisz plays
no real leadership role. He does, however, seem to know everyone
in the far right and acts as an ambassador of good will among the
factionalized movement. That turned out to be the key that would
unlock the doors of the neo-Nazi leadership to the Center's
research staff.
When Ron Furey returned and was debriefed, he was made aware of
the importance of strengthening his relationship with Reisz.
Before returning to Germany, he was provided with Holocaust
denial literature, tapes, and Nazi paraphernalia to give to Reisz
as an expression of his friendship and good will. Reisz took the
bait. He and Ron Furey were soon driving across Germany to meet
one neo-Nazi activist after another. The interviews were taped -
some openly, some secretly. They were overnighted back to the
Center for transcription and analysis.
Yaron was on live TV nationally in Germany last night and we
received a call this morning from a member of the Parliament who
wants to take up our call for investigations. We have offered the
German government any assistance, including ourselves for
debreifing, but they have been silent except for a statement quoting
their old figures on the strength of the movement.
Ron Furey's persona had now taken on an extra dimension.
Lavishing dinners, drinks, and gifts on the individuals he met,
he let it be known that he was fronting for a multi-millionaire
living in the United States, who were interested in funding
Germany's neo-Nazi movement.
Returning to the United States, Ron Furey was again debriefed by
S.W.C. staff. It was now apparent, however, that he would either
have to produce his multi-millionaire sponsor for his neo-Nazi
contacts on his next trip, or lose his credibility with them just
as the pieces of the puzzle were coming more closely together.
After lengthy discussion, it was decided that Richard Eaton, a
seven-year veteran of the Center's research department would play
that role. Eaton's work monitoring white supremacist and other
extremist groups in the United States was a major plus. He would
certainly know what questions to ask, and just as important -
what answers to give.
Made over to look the part, Eaton accompanied Ron Furey to Munich
where rooms in an upscale hotel, booked on short notice, awaited
their arrival. Impressed by Mr. Eaton's apparent wealth and Ron
Furey's performance as his subservient lackey, Wolfgang Juchem and
Roy Godenau (see separate entries) agreed to Mr. Eaton's request to
meet various other leaders of the radical right (see entries for
Roeder and Schoenborn) and living icons of the movement (see entries
for Krause, Rost van Tonningen, Burwitz, and Goering). As the same
time, Eaton told his new acquaintances how important it was for him
to know that his money would be going to a movement that had the
support of "middle Germany," i.e. doctors, teachers, and other
professionals. Meetings with such individuals were quickly
arranged. (See entries for Schenk, Klaren, Hammelback, and Walz.)
[Editor's note: Request HOLOCAUST/NETHERLANDS HOLLAND.001 for more
details regarding Mrs. Tonningen and her pension controversy. knm]
One of the most intriguing pieces of information gathered on this
trip came out in a discussion between Roy Godenau, Richard Eaton,
and Ron Furey while traveling by car to Bielefeld. Roy Godenau,
who claims to travel the world selling antisemitic/anti-masonic
literature published in Argentina by one Juan Maler, confided
that Maler is really one Reinhard Kopps, a former Abwehr (World
War II German military intelligence) officer who, Godenau
relates, participated in "cleaning out" partisans in Albania.
Kopps reached South America via the "ratline." He had escaped an
allied internment camp, and took a list of other Abwehr agents
throughout the world with him before making his way to Argentina.
A good number of these agents were assigned to the Middle East
where some apparently still live.
Suggesting that his publishing company might be interested in
translating Kopps/Maler's literature for the English-speaking
world, Eaton convinced Godenau to try to arrange a meeting
between Kopps/Maler and himself. Kopps was quickly contacted by
Godenau and the trip was arranged.
During the first week of April 1993, Mr. Eaton flew to San Carlos
de Bariloche, Argentina where he met with Kopps for approximately
10 hours over three separate sessions. Kopps, who styles himself
as the sage of the movement, maintains links with both the
moderate and radical right throughout the world. The former
Abwehr agent told Mr. Eaton that he not only reached South
America via the "ratline" but had, in fact, worked for the
organization out of an office in the Vatican which, he claims,
had appointed him "secretary for refugees."
In discussions about the logistical and legal difficulties in
funneling funds to neo-Nazi groups in Germany, Kopps provided
Eaton with a letter of introduction to a contact in Luxembourg
who could be trusteed to safely launder and distribute those
funds.
Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Eaton joined Ron Furey
in contacting Roy Godenau who had expressed Mr. Juchem's concern
over not having received any of the promised funding. Both Eaton
and Furey contacted Godenau by phone informing him that on April
20th, Hitler's birthday, both he and Juchem would be convinced of
their sincerity.
FINDINGS
A. Enforcement of laws
1. Germany has passed a series of laws over the years to
prevent attempts at Nazi revivalism. These laws are
not always enforced, however. In some cases, neo-Nazis
have actually been tipped off in advance about
impending police raids. Such is the case of Heinz
Reisz, who told Ron Furey that an official in Hesse's
state police (whose name he does not even know) has
saved him considerable trouble by warning him that the
police were on the way. (See entry "Deep Throat")
2. Constantin Mayer leads the Dresden area cell of the
"Nationale Offensive," a group that was recently banned
by the government. Although Mayer says he is under
constant surveillance, he says he has cordial relations
with the police and conducts his business with them
"with a wink and a nod." (See entry Constantin Mayer)
3. Reisz's brother-in-law operates a video studio in
Langen which produces Nazi propaganda. Yet the studio
continues to operate. (See entry D. Warmt)
4. One woman, a retired police inspector, was presented by
Wolfgang Juchem to Ron Furey and Rick Eaton as an
example of his support among respectable Germans.
(Juchem is seeking to take over and unify all of
Germany's right wing.) (See entry Sigrid Schenk)
5. One neo-Nazi leader, Meinolf Schoenborn, has been
raided by the police on several occasions. They've
obtained his computerized membership list - a phoney,
prepared in advance from a local phone directory to
confuse the authorities. (See entry for Meinolf
Schoenborn)
B. ESTIMATES OF NEO-NAZI MEMBERSHIP
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is the
official German government agency which monitors the
activities of the radical right. Its estimates of
membership in various neo-Nazi organizations in Germany are
low. For example:
1. The Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, run by
notorious neo-Nazi Friedhelm Busse, is estimated by the
Office for Protection of the Constitution at 150
members. Yet while ingratiating himself with Busse,
Ron Furey was shown Busse's list - 980 members. Busse
even claims he has thrown out another 150 for
alcoholism. (See entry for Friedhelm Busse)
2. While the government estimates that another group, the
Nationale Offensive, has 100 members, Ron Furey found
out that the Dresden area cell alone has 150. (See
entry for Mayer)
3. Meinolf Schoenborn's "Nationalistic Front," which is
also banned, is estimated at 130 members. Schoenborn
claims an infrastructure of 8,600. Even if Schoenborn
is overdoing it, it is apparent from information
obtained through an interview between Ron Furey and
Schoenborn that the 130 figure is overly conservative.
(See entry for Schoenborn)
Furthermore, the image of the supporters of the radical
right does not always conform to the street-thug stereotype.
(See entries for Juchem, Schenk, Klaren, Hammelback,
Marliany, Walz)
C. NAZI LEADERSHIP
Many names have been given by the press and the German
government over the years as the top Nazi leadership. Some
of these people, however, are not in the leadership
positions they once were.
The most significant find of the trip was that one Wolfgang
Juchem, who has a squeaky-clean record and 30 years of
service to his country, is considered by many to be the
odds-on favorite to restore the radical right's tarnished
image. (see entry for Wolfgang Juchem)
D. INTERNATIONAL LINKS
1. The Center attached an answering machine to a cold line
announcing to any potential caller that he or she had
reached The (fictional magazine) Right Way. This was done
to provide credibility to Ron Furey's cover should anyone
decide to check up on his persona as a journalist.
On Friday, February 12, 1993, that phone rang - it was Mark
Weber of the Institute for Historical Review, the notorious
organization dedicated to the proposition that the gas
chambers of Auschwitz are a myth. He had called to obtain a
copy of The Right Way. Now, the only people who knew that
number were Ron Furey, the Center's senior research staff,
and the neo-Nazis in Germany to whom it had been given.
Furthermore, several of these people claimed to know Weber
quite well. (See entries for Kempkens, Godenau, Weber, and
Carto),
2. Roy Godenau's contacts with Iraq and Khadaffi (see entry for
Godenau).
3. Reinhard Kopps, a former Abwehr (World War II German
military intelligence) officer who worked for, and escaped
to South America via the "ratline," maintains links with the
radical right throughout the world. Kopps, who employs
Godenau, (see entry) provided Mr. Eaton with a letter of
introduction to a contact in Luxembourg who could be trusted
to launder and distribute funds to various neo-Nazi groups
in Germany. Kopps also suggested that Mr. Eaton consider
employing Mark Weber (see entry) for a separate project.
PERSONALITIES
ALTHANS, B. EWALD
From contacts established by Ron Furey, it is obvious that
Ewald Althans is not the neo-Nazi leader that the press has,
over the years, made him out to be. Though intelligent and well-
spoken, Althans' extravagant lifestyle and sexual preference have
made him a pariah within the movement. When Furey asked the neo-
Nazi leadership about the possibility of meeting with Althans,
several simultaneously answered, "We don't want another Michael
Kuhnen." (Kuhnen, a one-time major leader of Germany's neo-Nazis,
died of AIDS while in prison.)
Althans, however, is apparently not totally out of favor
with the Carto organization (see separate entry). He has
attended two of the most recent conventions of the Institute for
Historical Review. While Althans has been played up in the past,
it is obvious that he has fallen from grace.
BURWITZ, GUDRUN
Gudrun Burwitz is the daughter of one-time SS Chief,
Heinrich Himmler. Roy Godenau (see separate entry) tried to
secure an appointment for Ron Furey with Gudrun Burwitz for an
interview for The Right Way. Though an icon of the neo-Nazi
movement, Burwitz is reluctant to speak to anyone either about
her father or her political views because her husband is
vehemently opposed to any such discussions. Nevertheless, Gudrun
Burwitz consented to speak with Ron for a few minutes over the
phone, where she expressed her satisfaction with his involvement
"in the movement." Gudrun Burwitz is a close friend of Florrie
Rost van Tonningen (see separate entry).
BUSSE, FRIEDHELM
Friedhelm Busse is a veteran of Germany's radical right. In
1971 Busse founded the People's Socialist League Party of Labor.
Busse has spent time in prison for inciting racial hatred. Today
he is the leader of Freiheitliche Deutsche Arbeiterpartei
(F.A.P.) which declares as its aim, the realization of national
socialism. Reisz introduced Furey to Busse, who was also taken
in by Furey's performance. Busse showed Furey his membership
list of 980 names and addresses. This is very significant
because the government has put Busse's membership at less than
200.
Busse has particular power with German skinheads. He
believes in the use of violence and has discussed various
"actions" with Ron Furey. He is an admirer of Hitler, denier of
the Holocaust, and an advocate of overthrowing the government.
Busse has relationships to the icons of the movement (the
offspring of the leadership of the Third Reich) and is a powerful
speaker...filmed with Furey by CBS camera crew.
Busse's weakness, however, is that is headstrong and totally
unadaptable. He cannot change his image as a hardened Nazi, and
it is this inflexibility which will probably prevent him from
uniting and taking over Germany's radical right. Busse's F.A.P.,
however, continues to grow with Germany's economic woes, is prone
to violence, and is a force to be reckoned with.
CARTO, WILLIS
Willis Carto is the most influential professional antisemite
in the United States. He is the founder of Liberty Lobby, the
Institute for Historical Review, the Noontide Press (which
distributes a wide range of racist and antisemitic titles), and
the Populist Party, whose 1988 Presidential candidate was David
Duke. Carto's name came up in nearly every conversation held
between Ron Furey, S.W.C. researcher, Richard Eaton, and the neo-
Nazis. Literature produced by the Carto organization is widely
read by German's radical right. In addition, several of those
interviewed know Mr. Carto personally. (see entries for Godenau
and Rost von Tonningen)
CHRISTOPHERSEN, THIES
Thies Christophersen maintains a relationship with the Carto
organization (see separate entry) which distributes his
materials. A notorious antisemite, Christophersen avoided a jail
term for antisemitic activities in Germany by making his way to
Denmark, where he now lives. Christophersen was not interviewed
on this trip, but his name was brought up by Meinolf Schoenborn
(see separate entry) who is also considering moving to Denmark
where he and Christophersen can join forces in helping to lay the
groundwork for the establishment of a 4th Reich in Germany.
"DEEP THROAT"
Heinz Reisz (see separate entry) gets advance warning of
police raids on his operation from a sympathetic official within
Hesse's state police. Reisz, himself, does not know who his
benefactor is, but the raids of which he was warned did, in fact,
take place. It is reasonable to assume that "Deep Throat" must
be fairly high up within the department to have access to this
kind of information.
DEGRELLE, LEON [Ed. Note: Deceased, 1994. knm]
Leon Degrelle achieved the rank of SS general while in the
service of Adolf Hitler as leader of the "Walloon Legion"
(Belgian SS). Condemned to death after the war by a court in his
native Belgium, Degrelle escaped to Spain where he remains active
as a Nazi apologist. Praising Hitler as "the greatest genius of
all time," Degrelle lectures positively about the SS and is the
author of equally positive articles and books about the SS which
are published and distributed in the United States by the
Institute for Historical Review (see separate entry for Willis
Carto).
Video tapes featuring Degrelle's Nazi apologetics were
viewed by Ron Furey in the video production facilities of D.
Warmt, brother-in-law of Heinz Reisz (see separate entries for
both). Although no meeting took place between Mr. Degrelle and
Simon Wiesenthal Center researchers, the name of his "go-between"
was learned - Erich Norling.
GELLER, OTTO
A native of Germany now living in Ventura, California. Otto
Geller was named by Juchem as an American connection.
GODENAU, ROY (REAL NAME: ARMSTRONG)
Roy Godenau is a former G.I. who was stationed in Germany in
the 70's. He is married to a German woman, a fact which he feels
has prevented the government from deporting him. Godenau has
been unemployed for the better part of the last 10 years. He is
a walking encyclopedia of Nazism and believes in classical Jewish
and freemason conspiracy theories. Godenau comes from Washington
state where he attended school. Godenau has very negative
feelings toward the United States and more than anything else,
wants to be a German - something the radical right is not
prepared to do.
Godenau uses his American passport to travel the world
selling antisemitic and anti-masonic literature written and
published by one Juan Maler of Argentina. Godenau claims that
Maler is Reinhold Kopps (see separate entry).
Godenau played a role in the attempted overthrow of Surinam.
During "Desert Storm," he was put under house arrest by the
German government for allegedly supplying Iraq with information
on NATO tank movements on the Turkish border. Godenau has
extensive contacts with both the Iraqi and Libyan governments and
actually tried to enlist Ron Furey to join up. He claims to have
attempted to sell atomic secrets to various governments and says
if it will hurt U.S. interests, he will forgo payment.
Godenau claims to communicate with Willis Carto (see
separate entry) and Mark Weber (see separate entry) who is in
Carto's employ. In fact, Weber called The Right Way, (actually a
cold phone line at the Center) to authenticate Ron Furey's
credentials. Since there is no The Right Way and the cold line
number was given out only to neo-Nazis in Germany, we are
convinced that Godenau was telling the truth about his
connections to the Carto organization. Godenau also knows David
Duke, Tom Metzger, and Ernst Zuendel.
Although Godenau's ideas may be considered to be those of a
crackpot, he speaks calmly with authority, eloquence, and
sincerity. Most important, he is Wolfgang Juchem's right-hand
man and exerts very strong influence on him.
GOERING, EDDA
Edda Goering is the daughter of notorious Nazi war criminal
Hermann Goering. Although no meeting with her could be arranged,
her close friend, Florrie Rost van Tonningen (see separate entry)
confirmed that Goering remained a strong supporter of the neo-
Nazi movement. Edda Goering takes part in memorials for Nazi war
criminals and is highly respected within the movement because her
father cheated the hangman by taking his own life.
GRABER, RUDOLF
Rudolf Graber was the Bishop of Regensburg before his recent
retirement. Manfred Roeder (see separate entry) told Ron Furey
and Richard Eaton that Bishop Graber had actually provided him
with office space and requested from him an assortment of anti-
masonic literature.
HAMMELBACK (HAMMELBACH, HAMMELBECK), PROF. W.G.
W. G. Hammelback was one of several people presented by
Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support
among average German citizens. Hammelback told Ron Furey and
Richard Eaton that Juchem is "honest, truthful, and clean" and
inspires confidence with his leadership ability. Hammelback
arranges and addresses seminars which draw an average of 30
people at a time. These seminars attract people from all walks
of life. The ultra-right-wing message is cleverly cloaked at
these seminars in discussions about ecology and the environment
(see entry for Weidner). Hammelback claims to be a past-
president of a group calling itself the "World League for the
Preservation of Life."
JUCHEM, WOLFGANG
Wolfgang Juchem was the biggest single find of Ron Furey's
trip. Unlike the other stars of German's radical right, Juchem
has a squeaky-clean record and in fact has served his country for
30 years - both with the army and with intelligence as a
spymaster. Juchem maintains good relations with the leadership
of Germany's "respectable" right wing parties, is good-looking,
personable, and eloquent.
Juchem is viewed positively by most of the radical right and
is considered to have the best chance of unifying the entire
movement. He is not the leader of any party nor has he thrown
his hat in with any particular group. He has told Ron that he is
waiting to see which of the radical parties emerges as the
strongest; then he will make his move.
Juchem claims an underground support group of 10,000, two
thousand of which financially support his cause. Juchem has
strong support of ethnic Germans who have arrived from
neighboring countries and who were living in areas which were
once part of Germany. He delivers frequent lectures and appears
to be a good solid citizen whose only interest is the welfare of
Germany.
Juchem has told Ron Furey that the government is out to get
him (although Center researchers could not find his name on
official lists of known neo-Nazis) and that the Jews are behind
German's current troubles. He has also confided to Furey his
denial of the Holocaust and admiration of Adolf Hitler. Furey
was able to bring Reisz, Busse, and Juchem together, where they
were secretly filmed by a CBS crew. There they decided to create
a center from which Nazi ideas could be disseminated throughout
Germany.
Juchem could be very dangerous. He is totally adaptable and
will conform to any image that is needed to gain power. He was
also able to produce for Ron Furey and S.W.C. researcher, Richard
Eaton, a group of supporters from "middle Germany" -- ordinary
citizens in respectable positions. The fact that he spent 30
years in the service of his country, also means that he has had
plenty of time to develop relationships. He has, in fact, told
Ron and Richard that such is indeed the case. Juchem is "clean"
and has a power base. He may be the man to watch.
KEMPKENS, WOLFGANG
Kempkens, 53, has papers for both Canada and Germany. He
once worked as a writer for Stars & Stripes. Kempkens told Ron
Furey that he knows Mark Weber (see separate entry) "pretty well"
and that he has contributed to the Journal of Historical Review
(the publication of Willis Carto's Institute for Historical
Review, which denies the Holocaust). Kempkens often travels to
the former U.S.S.R. to try to buy archival material which might
support the Holocaust revisionist stance. He is an apologist for
the Third Reich and claims to be more to the right of the current
neo-Nazi leadership. He maintains strong ties to other radicals
throughout Europe and America.
KLAREN, DR. FRIEDRICH
Dr. Friedrich Klaren was presented to Ron Furey and Richard
Eaton by Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of
his support among average German citizens. Klaren tells an eye-
opening story about his wartime past. He says he was assigned by
his company to spend two days at the Mauthausen concentration
camp (near Linz, Austria) where he was involved in supervising
inmates who worked in the camp's quarries. He claims that camp
officials took extra measures to safeguard the health of quarry
workers by outfitting them with devices to filter out mining dust
as they breathed. After the war, Dr. Klaren (doctorate is in
business administration) continued his career in quarry
operations.
Klaren has high regard for Juchem and is especially
impressed with his abilities as an orator. He says he has
attended meetings where groups of one hundred or more turned out
to hear Juchem. Furthermore, Klaren feels that Juchem is
precisely the kind of candidate who will find support in
veterans' organizations.
KLAUS, EWALD
Ewald Klaus is a former member of the SS and, in fact
admitted to having taken part in the notorious Malmedy massacre
of American soldiers during the Battle of the Ardennes. Klaus
served as a translator for Ron Furey's discussion with Frank
Rennicke (see separate entry). Klaus Ewald, a minor player in
the neo-Nazi movement, is an open Holocaust denier and booster of
the Viking Youth.
KOEBERICH, WILHELM
Wilhelm Koeberich is also known by the code name "Kampfhahn"
(fighting cock). Koeberich is the elder statesman of the neo-
Nazi movement. During the Hitler era, Koeberich was sent to the
Adolf Hitler School as a child prodigy. "Fighting cock" is a
scrawny, fragile-looking individual and by appearance does not
"look the part." Yet he is bright and quite crafty. He collects
and distributes monies to the various neo-Nazi groups and is
adaptable at playing more than one side of the fence at a time.
There are two competing attempts to overthrow the current
Republikaner leadership and take the party even further to the
right (see entries for Thrun and Juchem). Koeberich is involved
in both of them and neither group knows of the other!
Koeberich is a virulent antisemite, Holocaust denier, and
admirer of Adolf Hitler. Koeberich was secretly filmed by the
CBS crew which accompanied Ron Furey.
KOPPS, REINHOLD (AKA JUAN MALER)
According to Roy Godenau (see separate entry) Reinhold Kopps
was an intelligence officer serving with the Abwehr (German
military intelligence) in Albania, where he was engaged in
"cleaning out" partisans. After the war, Kopps worked out of the
Vatican with the "ratline" before making good his own escape to
South America. Kopps took a list of Abwehr officers stationed
throughout the world with him.
Kopps now lives as Juan Maler in the town of San Carlos de
Bariloche near the Chilean border.
Kopps/Maler is a publisher of anti-masonic and antisemitic
materials who employs Godenau as a traveling salesman for his
literature. Godenau has also admitted to "moving" money for
Kopps, as well as serving as his go-between with other members of
the Nazi movement in 52 countries.
During the first week of April, 1993, S.W.C. researcher,
Richard Eaton, flew to Argentina where he met with Kopps on three
occasions. During one of these meetings, Kopps provided Eaton
with a letter of introduction to a contact in Luxembourg who
could be trusted to funnel large sums of money to various neo-
Nazi groups in Germany.
Interestingly, Kopps also recommended Mark Weber (see entry)
to Mr. Eaton for a separate project.
KRAUSE, KARL WILHELM
As Hitler's personal valet and bodyguard, Karl Wilhelm
Krause is viewed a major icon of the neo-Nazi movement. During
his service with Hitler, Krause stuck so close to his boss that
the Fuehrer nicknamed him his "shadow." Interviewed by Ron Furey
and Richard Eaton, Krause offered insights into Hitler's
personality - all of them positive.
End of Part VII
Part VIII of SWC Operation Report
LEUCHTER, FRED
Fred Leuchter, whose oft-touted credentials as an expert in
execution hardware were recently discovered not to exist, is the
author of the "Leuchter Report," a pseudo-scientific attempt to
prove that no one was murdered in the gas chanbers of Auschwitz.
Despite the fact that Leuchter was forced to admit to a
Massachusetts court that he had misrepresented his credentials
and expertise, the long-discredited "Leuchter Report" is still
accepted by neo-Nazis as proof positive that the Holocaust is a
hoax.
MARLIANY, ERNST
Ernst Marliany is a high school teacher and financial
advisor. Although he is of Italian ancestry, his family has
lived in Germany for centuries and is accepted by the radical
right as German. Marliany is involved in Bernd Thrun's (see
separate entry) attempt to overthrow the Republikaner leadership
and to take it even more to the right. In fact, Marliany is
Thrun's choice to assume that leadership role.
Marliany claims to be a major in the German army reserves
who has worked with security officers of the French and American
armies. He has told Ron Furey that he is willing and able to
launder money through his financial services. Marliany is viewed
by most others within the movement as a big talker only.
MUELLER, CURT AND URSULA
This married couple lives near Mainz and runs the H.N.G. a
radical Nazi "help group" founded in 1979. Curt Mueller is a
recruiter of young neo-Nazis. He has confided to Ron Furey that
he has taken part in "serious Nazi activities." He is a
Holocaust denier and admirer of Hitler.
Curt Mueller is viewed by other radicals as somewhat of a
joke. That has not stopped him, however, from taking part in the
beatings of foreigners. The Mueller home has a Nazi shrine which
young would-be Nazis are encouraged to visit.
MAYER, CONSTANTIN
This 21-year-old former skinhead runs the Dresden office of
the "Nationale Offensive," which continues to grow despite an
official government ban. Mayer claims that his cell alone has
150 members. This is significant, because the government claims
that the membership of the entire group nationwide is only 100.
Mayer confided to Furey that although he is under constant
surveillance, he has more than cordial relationships with the
police - "We finish all our business with a wink and a nod."
Mayer has confided that he is in contact with a former G.I.
living in Munich, one Kelner Williams, who supposedly delivers
money to the movement from the United States. Mayer also claims
to be in close contact with members of the Viking Youth, an
ultranationalist youth group which has yet to be banned, despite
its similarities to the Hitler Youth. Mayer wants Jews and "other
foreigners" out of the country.
NEUBAUER, HARALD
Harald Neubauer is a member of the European Parliament.
Neubauer was contacted through Bernd Thrun (see separate entry)
and was made aware of Ron Furey's "interest" in creating a neo-
Nazi center in Germany. Neubauer sent a letter expressing his
interest in discussing the matter. A meeting, however, could not
be arranged as Neubauer claimed pressing business in Strasbourg.
RENNICKE, FRANK
Frank Rennicke is thought of as the "Elvis" of the radical
right. He is a singer who has produced thousands of cassettes
with ultranationalist themes. Some of these songs are
accompanied by a chorus of the ultranationalist Viking Youth,
with whom he works as an advisor and role model.
Rennicke has confided his hatred of Jews and foreigners to
Ron Furey. He has expressed his admiration of Hitler and his
denial of the Holocaust, and admits that he imparts these
sentiments to the impressionable youth with whom he works.
REISZ, HEINZ
Heinz Reisz does not play a major role in the neo-Nazi
leadership. Despite the fact that the government has apparently
made a "whipping boy" of him by suspending several of his
political rights, Reisz's real importance lies in the fact that
he knows most of the major players and is accepted by them as
their go-between and ambassador-at-large. Reisz, in fact, sees
himself as the movement's drum major and not its leader.
Reisz was completely taken in by Ron Furey and not only
introduced him to much of the neo-Nazi leadership but vouched for
him as well. Reisz and Furey developed a very close and cordial
relationship. He confided to Ron his strong admiration for Adolf
Hitler, his revulsion toward Jews, and his denial of the mass
murders at Auschwitz.
ROEDER, MANFRED
Manfred Roeder is not a newcomer to German's neo-Nazi
movement. A founder of several radical groups, Roeder was
sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for charges related to the
bombing of refugee hostels in 1980 in which two residents were
killed. Ron Furey and Richard Eaton interviewed Roeder on March
8, 1993. Roeder spoke of his role with the P.L.O. and other
terrorist groups, addding that he received financial assistance
for his work from both American and South African sources.
Roeder claimed that an "earthquake" would soon take place inside
the German government. He, furthermore, stated that only a
revolution can solve Germany's current woes. Roeder's interview
also featured a litany of Jewish conspiracies.
Roeder is a strong supporter of Wolfgang Juchem (see
separate entry) whom, he says, visited him regularly while he was
in prison. Although he feels Juchem is a very good man, Roeder
told Ron and Richard that outright violence is still the best
cure for Germany's ills.
Among Roeder's credits is a group calling itself the
Deutsche Buergerinitiative (Germay Citizen's Initiative), an
extremist group dating back to 1971.
ROST VAN TONNINGEN, FLORRIE
Florrie Rost van Tonningen is the widow of notorious Dutch
Nazi collaborator, Meinoud Rost van Tonningen. A leader of
Holland's Nazi party and personal favorite of Adolf Hitler and
Heinrich Himmler (the former attended the van Tonningen wedding),
Meinoud R.v. Tonningen was handpicked to run Holland's national
bank during the German occupation. He committed suicide in 1945,
before he could face trial as a traitor to his homeland. Now in
her late seventies, Florrie Rost van Tonningen remains a
committed Nazi and has in fact been twice convicted of inciting
racial hatred by distributing antisemitic/Holocaust denial
literature. Known as the "Black Widow," Florrie R.v.Tonningen
caused an outcry in 1986 when it was discovered that she was
using part of her state pension to finance a neo-Nazi party in
the Netherlands. She has been a guest lecturer at conventions of
the Institute for Historical Review and claims a close frienship
with its founder, Willis Carto (see separate entry).
Ron Furey and Richard Eaton drove to Florrie R. v.
Tonningen's home in the Netherlands, accompanied by Roy Godenau
(see separate entry). Rost van Tonningen, a major icon of the
neo-Nazi movement, expressed strong support for Wolfgang Juchem
(see separate entry) as Germany's next fuehrer, admitted a role
in the attempted overthrow of Surinam's government, and told of a
secret neo-Nazi meeting to take place on March 22 in a Cologne
suburb (sounding like "Eschenstein") at which she was to deliver
an apparently illegal lecture.
SCHENK, SIGRID
Sigrid Schenk is a retired police inspector living in
Minden. She was presented to Ron Furey and Richard Eaton by
Wolfgang Juchem (see separate entry) as an example of his support
among average German citizens. Schenk grew up in Nazi Germany
and claims there was nothing negative about the Third Reich. She
stated that Germans must be "reeducated" to make up for the 45
years of brainwashing done by the Allies. Schenk admires
Wolfgang Juchem and considers him the best choice to bring
Germany together. In the meanwhile, Sigrid Schenk claims
leadership of a cultural society whose purpose is to present "an
accurate view of the real way history happened." This club is
said to have a membership of 300-500.
SCHOENBORN, MEINOLF
Meinolf Schoenborn is the leader of the Nationalistic Front,
a radical group which has been declared illegal by the
government. German officials put the group's membership at less
than 150. Schoenborn, however, claims an "infrastructure" of
8,600 to Ron Furey. Schoenborn told Furey and Richard Eaton that
he favors the overthrow of the government and is seeking the
establishment of the 4th Reich. To avoid German government
surveillance, however, Schoenborn wants to establish a center in
nearby Denmark. Schoenborn has been raided by the authorities on
several occasions but has confounded them by inputting phoney
names on a computerized "membership list." Enthralled with
meeting Richard Eaton, Schoenborn provided him with a wish list
for his proposed Danish center and safe house services and items
which will cost around a 1.5 million marks ($950,000,000).
Schoenborn is strong, fearless and charismatic as well as
given to violence. He targets youth between the ages of 16-
24...wants Jews and "other aliens" out of Germany.
SKINHEADS
On January 24, 1993, Ron Furey was introduced to major
players in Germany's skinhead movement at a "safe house" in the
Cologne suburb of Portz. Taking part in the discussion were Ron
and nine skinhead leaders, most of whom identified themselves by
first name only. These individuals included "Roland," "Eckhard,"
"Susanne," "Michael," "Eric," "Peter," "Jaschka," "Detlev," and
Thomas Heinke.
The skinhead leadership was well-acquainted with Holocaust
denial literature and the players in the movement. They also
stated their belief that Germany was the center of the white race
and that they consider Jews a survival test for Christian
society.
"Jaschka" is a walking advertisement for the movement - his
body is tattood with swastikas and similar symbols. The public
display of the swastika in Germany is a criminal offense.
Freidhelm Busse (see separate entry) is the father figure of
the skinhead leadership. Although Busse is not ready to
relinquish his power over them, Juchem (see separate inquiry) has
confided that he intends to make use of their talents when the
time comes.
THRUN BERND
Bernd Thrun of Mainz is a member of the Republikaner Party
but is involved in a cabal to overthrow the current party
leadership so it can be taken even further to the right. On the
surface, however, Thrun is a solid party member - yet he is
secretly involved with radical groups - forbidden by the
Republikaner Party which wishes to avoid the neo-Nazi label.
Thrun collects and distributes money to skinheads who volunteer
to fight in Croatia (DM175 per month). he is a close associate
of Heinz Reisz and a backer of Wolfgang Juchem.
WALENDY, UDO
Udo Walendy is a notorious Holocaust denier who, for years,
has served on the advisory board of the Journal of Historical
Review, the official publication of the Institute for Historical
Review of Costa Mesa, California. (see entries for Mark Weber and
Willis Carto) In their phone conversation, Walendy expressed
interest in meeting Furey personally and in offering his
assistance in the creation of a Nazi center in Germany.
WARMT, D.
D. Warmt is Heinz Reisz's brother-in-law. He once worked
for Reuters but was let go, apparently for reasons of health.
Warmt owns two video studios, one in Langen and the other in
Mainz. His Langen operation is primarily engaged in producing
Nazi propaganda films and videos. The studio in Mainz produces
what Warmt terms "special films," i.e. porno flicks. Warmt's
Langen operation produces materials that are apparently forbidden
by German law, yet the studio continues to function.
WEBER, MARK
Mark Weber works for the Institute for Historical Review
(Costa Mesa, California), one of several antisemitic
organizations founded by Willis A. Carto. The I.H.R. devotes
most of its time to spreading the bizarre notion that the
Holocaust is wildly exaggerated and that the gas chambers of
Hitler's death camps are a myth. In 1978, Weber was identified
as the news editor of the National Vanguard, the publication of
William Pierce's neo-Nazi group, the National Alliance.
Weber's name came up in several conversations with German
neo-Nazis, including Wolfgang Kempkens and Roy Godenau. As part
of Ron Furey's cover, a "cold" phone line at the Simon Wiesenthal
Center was attached to an answering machine informing the caller
that he/she had reached The Right Way. That phone number was
known only to the Center's senior research staff, Ron Furey, and
the neo-Nazis to whom it was given.
At 2:55pm on Friday, February 12, 1993, a man identifying
himself as Mark Weber called the number, requested a copy of The
Right Way, and left his P.O.B. address for mailing. The Center's
graphics department sent him a colorful subscription application
for the non-existent periodical, instead. This was apparently
enough to satisfy Mr. Weber's curiosity because he soon acceded
to Ron's request for a meeting.
That meeting took place on February 27, 1993 at the Cafe
Westminster in Westminster, California. It was filmed by a CBS
camera crew stationed in a van outside. Mr. Furey spoke to Mark
Weber at length about the "state of the movement" in Germany. To
help establish his credibility, he showed Weber several photos
picturing him and several German neo-Nazis together. Weber
correctly identified them all.
Weber soon felt comfortable enough to discuss the
miserliness of his current employer and to ask about the
possibility of finding work with The Right Way. He was also
recommended by Reinhard Kopps (see entry) to Richard Eaton for a
separate project.
WEIDNER, NORBERT
Norbert Weidner is a member of the Freiheitliche Deutsche
Arbeiterpartei (F.A.P.) run by Friedhelm Busse (see separate
entry). Weidner runs the Bonn office of the group and is a
regional spokesman for the skinhead movement. This 20 year-old
has been involved in attacks on foreigners in Bonn and Cologne.
Like other on the far right, Weidner is a Holocaust denier
and admirer of Adolf Hitler. He has put his own touch on the
movement, however, by appealing to environmental and ecological
concerns - "A healthy land breeds healthy people." Weidner is a
believer in a "greater Germany," whose borders conform with those
of the Holy Roman Empire. Weidner and Furey met at a "safe
house" in the Cologne suburb of Portz.
WALZ, DORIS
Doris Walz, a pharmacist married to a physician in Minden,
was presented to Ron Furey and Richard Eaton by Wolfgang Juchem
(see separate entry) as an example of his support among average
German citizens. Doris Walz is totally enamored with Juchem and
strongly feels that he enjoys the support of many Germans who
fear voicing their sentiments in public.
WILLIAMS, KELLNER
Kellner Williams is an ex-G.I. now living in Munich.
Williams, who apparently was a member of the KKK while stationed
in Germany, was reached by phone by Ron Furey. Although Williams
remained non-commital over the phone, Ron was given to understand
that he was in position to facilitate the transfer of funds from
the United States to special recipients in Germany.
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© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2008
