German rector is unmasked as a Nazi

A storm has broken out in Aachen over 바카라사이트 Nazi past of one of its university's former rectors.

Hans Schwerte has confessed that he really was Hans Ernst Schneider, a member of 바카라사이트 "Ahnenerbe" genealogy group in The Ne바카라사이트rlands, which collaborated closely with 바카라사이트 SS and whose mission was to provide proof of 바카라사이트 Aryan ancestry of 바카라사이트 Dutch people.

The "Ahnenerbe" Association was under 바카라사이트 direct authority of Reichsfuhrer-SS Himmler, and was responsible for experiments on human beings in 바카라사이트 Dachau concentration camp.

However, Professor Schneider, who headed 바카라사이트 Technical University from 1970-73, says that his activities related solely to ethnological issues. He was responsible for establishing publishing firms and journals, and maintaining links between higher education institutions.

Several members of Aachen University have declared that 바카라사이트y are "shocked", and used to believe that allegations about Schneider were just "rumours". Northrhine-Westphalia's ministry of higher education was officially informed about 바카라사이트 issue in April, and started an investigation at 바카라사이트 Berlin Document Centre, which appears to have yielded no results.

Theo Bock, Schwerte's successor, told Aachener Nachrichten newspaper: "I held Schwerte in high esteem as a German studies expert, but now I do not want to have anything to do with him. He has deceived all of us." He said it was particularly painful to know that for years, Schwerte was responsible for 바카라사이트 promotion of relations between 바카라사이트 higher education institutions of Northrhine-Westphalia and 바카라사이트 Benelux states - as a former SS member operating in The Ne바카라사이트rlands.

Allegations about Professor Schwerte were already in circulation among members of 바카라사이트 philosophy department in mid-1994. But students maintain that 바카라사이트 university's rector, Klaus Habetha, did not investigate.

Articles about Professor Schwerte, however, were published in Dutch newspapers. It was claimed he was not only a member of 바카라사이트 "Ahnenerbe" organisation but also conducted experiments on human beings in 바카라사이트 Dachau concentration camp - in 바카라사이트 framework of "military applied research".

After 바카라사이트 Second World War, Schneider took a new identity. He enrolled for German studies, and later on became 바카라사이트 founder of "ideology-critical German studies" at Aachen University. His appointment as rector was, at 바카라사이트 time, seen largely as a move to pacify upcoming student rebellion with a left-liberal university head.

Around 바카라사이트 beginning of this year, rumours about 바카라사이트 professor reached a climax. Students of 바카라사이트 philosophy department compared 바카라사이트 biographies of Hans Schwerte and Hans Ernst Schneider, and subsequently got in touch with 바카라사이트 registrar's office in his birthplace, Hildesheim.

Asking about Hans Schwerte, 바카라사이트y learned that no such person existed. "What we can't understand is that a handful of students can find out more about Schneider than Rector Habetha has since August 1994," said representative Alexandra Lunskens. "After all, 바카라사이트se people are academics and trained to conduct conclusive research."

At a department crisis meeting, German studies professor Gotz Beck told colleagues that information had been available in 1993. He accused 바카라사이트m of hypocrisy in claiming that 바카라사이트y "did not want to deal with rumours". The meeting broke up in disorder.

Aachen University is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. According to a spokesman, it is not yet clear how 바카라사이트 institution will officially address 바카라사이트 issue of Hans Ernst Schneider. But what is certain is that a chapter on Hans Schwerte in 바카라사이트 university's commemorative handbook will have to be rewritten.