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Guard battalion of the Bundeswehr (on a state visit in 2018)
Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek.net / imago / photothek
Internal reports about right-wing extremist activities and unsavory rituals within the guard battalion of the Ministry of Defense are causing excitement in the department of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU).
According to SPIEGEL information, the troop investigators are now investigating the suspicion that a right-wing extremist group of soldiers has formed within the relatively small Bundeswehr association.
Another report on the explosive investigation reached the ministry on Wednesday.
According to SPIEGEL information, a witness had previously described in concrete terms for the first time that a nationalist and partly right-wing extremist group of at least six soldiers had formed within the second company of the guard battalion, who are supposed to call themselves a "wolf pack".
The research is not about any unit of the Bundeswehr.
The guard battalion provides the protocol honorary service on state visits and tattooing.
Because of these public appearances with the Chancellor or the Federal President, the association is considered one of the figureheads of the Bundeswehr.
Internal investigators are now investigating a whole series of allegations under high pressure.
It is about right-wing extremist activities, but also about repulsive admission rituals and violations of sexual self-determination in the rather small association, which only consists of a good 1,000 soldiers.
The military intelligence service MAD has also been switched on.
According to an internal note, a disturbing life of its own has evidently developed behind the shiny facade of the flagship association.
According to witness statements, a group of at least six soldiers who openly referred to themselves as "wolf packs" is said to have formed in the 2nd Company.
The witness described the group of team ranks as "ethnic or national", but some could "be viewed as right-wing radicals."
A "radical group" is mentioned in the subject line of the message.
It is being investigated because of extremist behavior, hatred of the people and the departure from the liberal-democratic basic order.
A T-shirt with a black sun and the inscription »Sonnenstudio 88«
The rough details alone provide almost all the building blocks for a scandal.
The group is said to have organized degrading rituals within the association for a long time.
The witness named "urinating in the shower", "punching the liver", "lighting parts of the body with a lighter and cigarette" as examples.
In addition, the soldiers had held their genitals in the face of a sleeping comrade.
The soldiers, who are probably close friends with each other and also go on vacation together, also showed their attitude quite openly.
The alleged leader, a 32-year-old corporal, is said to have worn a T-shirt with a black sun and the inscription "Sonnenstudio 88".
According to the statement, the cynical writing "We are brown" was emblazoned on the back.
The number combination 88 has been used in right circles for years as a symbol for the Hitler salute, as this is a criminal offense.
The witness’s testimony also fits in with other allegations against the alleged leader of the group.
The Oberstabsgefreiten has been investigated since the end of September because he is said to have insulted soldiers with Asian roots as "Fiji" or "Schlitzauge".
Feldjäger should interrogate all soldiers of the 2nd Company
The Bundeswehr takes the allegations very seriously.
Already in the middle of the week, the corporal corporal was prohibited from performing duty and wearing the uniform.
Disciplinary preliminary investigations are underway against four other soldiers who are said to belong to the group.
Feldjäger should now interrogate all soldiers of the 2nd Company as quickly as possible.
If the suspicions against the alleged members of the "wolf pack" are confirmed, they too will be taken out of service quickly.
The investigation could expand considerably.
Two sergeants from the battalion are also said to be associated with the group, according to the confidential note.
If this is confirmed, there would not only be a small group of lost people in the association, but also a blatant failure of leadership.
Symbol of the "iron broom"
For the outgoing Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer, the new case is downright toxic.
Since taking office, the CDU politician has been preaching an unyielding line against any kind of extremism in the troops. For her package of measures to clean up the "Special Forces Command" (KSK) she invented the symbol of the "iron broom".
The fact that such a group was able to form in the guard battalion of all places, which is very publicly present when the soldiers appear on state visits and is therefore a kind of figurehead for the Bundeswehr, is a bitter farewell pill for the minister.
A spokesman for the ministry did not want to comment on details of the incidents in the guard battalion because of the ongoing investigations and the protection of personal rights.
Basically, however, every suspected case is followed up decisively, he emphasized, that any form of extremism is not acceptable.
