National Socialist Underground
Encyclopedia
National Socialist Underground or NSU, is a far-right
German terror group
which was uncovered in November 2011. The Bosphorus serial murders
, a murder series of nine Turkish and Greek
immigrants
between 9 September 2000 and 6 April 2006, the murder of a policewoman and the 2004 Cologne bombing
have been attributed to the NSU. The Attorney General of Germany
called the NSU a "right-wing extremist group", who have the purpose to "kill out of xenophobic and anti-state sentiments all citizens of foreign origin".
On 4 November 2011, after a bank robbery in Eisenach
, Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt were found shot dead in a mobile home, which was burning. Police say they set the vehicle on fire and committed suicide when their vehicle was found. In that caravan, the handgun of murdered police woman Michèle Kiesewetter was found. The same day, their flat in Zwickau
also was set on fire and an explosion occurred, Beate Zschäpe is suspected of having caused that.
Police found a silenced CZ 83 which was used by the Bosphorus serial murders
and a number of other guns in the remains of the house. Further, a DVD was found with images of three of the dead persons that had been taken immediately after the killings.
On 13 November 2011, Holger G., a possible fourth member of the NSU was arrested and brought before a judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice
the following day, who ordered him to be detained in custody. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office wanted Holger G. detained on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group. However the court's investigating judge only authorized G. to be detained on suspicion of supporting a terrorist organization.
The discovery of the crimes committed by the "Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund" terror group plunged Germany in a state of shock, even if right winged terrorism has historical roots in Germany. After the brutal crimes were known by the public, Chancellor Angela Merkel
stated on 14 November 2011 that she wants to consider a ban of the National Democratic Party of Germany
to weaken the power of extremist right-wing groups.
Far right in Germany
Following the fall of Nazi Germany and the dissolution of the Nazi Party in 1945, the far right in Germany quickly re-organized itself.The Deutsche Rechtspartei was founded in 1946, succeeded by the Deutsche Reichspartei in 1950. The Socialist Reich Party was founded in 1949...
German terror group
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
which was uncovered in November 2011. The Bosphorus serial murders
Bosphorus serial murders
The Bosphorus serial murders also known as Döner murders, the term often used by the media, were a series of murders that took place in Germany between 2000 and 2006, leaving ten people dead and one wounded. The perpetrators called themselves National Socialist Underground...
, a murder series of nine Turkish and Greek
Greeks in Germany
The Greeks in Germany form a significant community with a population of 294,891 people according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, on December 31, 2007.-History:The first Greeks came during the time of the Roman Empire to Central Europe....
immigrants
Immigration to Germany
On 1 January 2005, a new immigration law came into effect that altered the legal method of immigration to Germany. The political background to the introduction of the new immigration law being that Germany for the first time ever acknowledged to be an "immigration country." Although the practical...
between 9 September 2000 and 6 April 2006, the murder of a policewoman and the 2004 Cologne bombing
2004 Cologne bombing
On 9 June 2004 a pipe bomb detonated in Cologne, Germany, in a business area popular with immigrants from Turkey. 22 people were wounded, four sustained serious injuries. A barber's shop was completely destroyed, many shops and numerous parked cars were seriously damaged by the explosion and the...
have been attributed to the NSU. The Attorney General of Germany
Attorney General of Germany
The Attorney General of Germany is the federal prosecutor of Germany, representing the federal government at the Bundesgerichtshof, the federal court of justice. The office of the Attorney General is located in Karlsruhe. Besides its role in appellate cases, the Attorney General has primary...
called the NSU a "right-wing extremist group", who have the purpose to "kill out of xenophobic and anti-state sentiments all citizens of foreign origin".
On 4 November 2011, after a bank robbery in Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
, Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt were found shot dead in a mobile home, which was burning. Police say they set the vehicle on fire and committed suicide when their vehicle was found. In that caravan, the handgun of murdered police woman Michèle Kiesewetter was found. The same day, their flat in Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
also was set on fire and an explosion occurred, Beate Zschäpe is suspected of having caused that.
Police found a silenced CZ 83 which was used by the Bosphorus serial murders
Bosphorus serial murders
The Bosphorus serial murders also known as Döner murders, the term often used by the media, were a series of murders that took place in Germany between 2000 and 2006, leaving ten people dead and one wounded. The perpetrators called themselves National Socialist Underground...
and a number of other guns in the remains of the house. Further, a DVD was found with images of three of the dead persons that had been taken immediately after the killings.
On 13 November 2011, Holger G., a possible fourth member of the NSU was arrested and brought before a judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice
Federal Court of Justice of Germany
The Federal Court of Justice of Germany in Karlsruhe is the highest court in the system of ordinary jurisdiction in Germany. It is the supreme court in all matters of criminal and private law...
the following day, who ordered him to be detained in custody. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office wanted Holger G. detained on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group. However the court's investigating judge only authorized G. to be detained on suspicion of supporting a terrorist organization.
The discovery of the crimes committed by the "Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund" terror group plunged Germany in a state of shock, even if right winged terrorism has historical roots in Germany. After the brutal crimes were known by the public, Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
stated on 14 November 2011 that she wants to consider a ban of the National Democratic Party of Germany
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
to weaken the power of extremist right-wing groups.