MOSCOW (Sputnik) — About 1,000 demonstrators from across the far-right spectrum, as well as troublemakers, are expected to attend the protest against the country's alleged "Islamization" and "Americanization," the German Interior Ministry said in response to a parliamentary question, as cited by the Tagesspiegel newspaper.
FYI: #NPD # Nazi demonstration in front of the Reichstag is on May 9, the "Day of Victory" over fascism. http://t.co/3NS9rbLQGv
— neues deutschland (@ndaktuell) April 30, 2015
The demonstration is being organized by several movements through social networks. They have a range of stated goals – from confronting the government and urging Chancellor Angela Merkel to resign, to actually storming the parliament.
— Ulla Jelpke (@UllaJelpke) April 30, 2015# Nazi provocation to the day of liberation from fascism on May 9 # - Storming of the #Reichstag - #NPD Member Registration
Neo-#Nazis plans to "storm the Reichstag" on anniversary of war's end #Berlin #Germany #ww2 http://t.co/ebIKRN6H8N pic.twitter.com/vONWKSTszq
— The Local Germany (@TheLocalGermany) April 30, 2015
The German news outlet cited the ministry as saying it did not expect the demonstration to get out of hand, although it added that the call for a "Sturm auf den Reichstag" could amount to a criminal offense.
The rally will be attended by members of the "Reich citizens" group, described by Tagesspiegel as a sect-like grouping that claims the German Reich still exists, and even issues passports on its behalf.
On May 9, Russia will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of the WWII in Europe. Soviet troops overran the Reichstag in the final days of the Battle of Berlin, one of the bloodiest in World War II. The photo of a Soviet soldier raising a flag over the building has become one of the war's most iconic images.
