Albrecht Weinberg, a Holocaust survivor aged 99, has announced that he will return his federal order of merit award due to the recent political actions of the German party CDU, which allied with the far-right AfD to advance an immigration resolution. Weinberg expressed his disapproval, stating, “I want to give it back after the parties joined forces with the right-wing radicals,” as he responded to the CDU's motion that was passed, advocating for stricter immigration controls.
This resolution, although non-binding, has drawn significant criticism for breaking a long-standing tradition referred to as the "firewall" that prevented mainstream parties from collaborating with far-right factions since World War II. The CDU's move followed reports of violent incidents linked to refugees, prompting a sensational political climate.
Born into a Jewish family in 1925, Mr. Weinberg endured the atrocities of the Nazi death camps during World War II, surviving Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen before emigrating to the United States post-war, and eventually returning to Germany a decade ago. He was awarded Germany's highest honor in 2017 for his efforts to educate the public about the Holocaust, sharing personal stories of his family's suffering.
Echoing similar concerns, fellow Auschwitz survivor Eva Umlauf, aged 82, warned against the potential dangers of political cooperation with extremist groups, recalling the prelude to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. Meanwhile, photographer Luigi Toscano has also pledged to return his order of merit as a statement against the CDU-AfD coalition.
Protests erupted across Germany following the CDU's alignment with the far right, highlighting widespread public discontent with the political developments. As negotiations among mainstream parties continued, the German Bundestag was preparing to reconsider legislation aimed at tightening immigration policies, demonstrating the ongoing tensions surrounding this issue in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.
10 Comments
Pupsik
Disgusting! Weinberg and Umlauf are heroes, and the CDU should be ashamed of themselves for aligning with the AfD. Shameful betrayal of our history and values!
Marishka
The "firewall" was a useful tool in the past, but times have changed. We need to be more flexible in our approach to politics.
Pupsik
The future of Germany is at stake. We need to support the CDU and our government in these difficult times.
Marishka
This is a wake-up call for all of us. We must be vigilant and never allow the far-right to gain a foothold in our society.
Pupsik
The CDU is making the tough decisions that need to be made. They are putting the interests of the German people first.
Bella Ciao
The "firewall" protected us for decades, and now the CDU is tearing it down. This is a betrayal of democracy and a threat to our future.
ZmeeLove
Returning the highest honor is the only way to protest this disgrace. The CDU is playing with fire by legitimizing the far-right.
Coccinella
The CDU is playing with fire, and they will get burned. The German people will not stand for this betrayal of our values.
Manolo Noriega
I understand the concerns of the Holocaust survivors, but we can't let the past dictate our future. We need to move forward as a nation.
Muchacho
The CDU is more concerned with political games than with protecting our society from extremism. This resolution is a disgrace, and they should be held accountable.