German-American Jailed for Writing Letter

ThoughtCrime: 08/08/95

By CODOH ∙ August 8, 1995

Last updated on

“Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death.”
George Orwell

On August 8th, the thought-police arrested a German-American human rights activist for thoughtcrime. Hans Schmidt was arrested at the Frankfurt/Main airport enroute to his home in Florida. Schmidt's crime – having written something in his newsletter, USA-Bericht / GANPAC Brief, which offended certain individuals.

Hans Schmidt mailed an open letter to a German government official last November. Schmidt's essay was devoted to advocacy of non-violence in the present and future political life of Germany. The offending passage was, “…My God, what do you people imagine? It was the Left, the anarchists, the Jew-and-Freemason-infested political system, along with the controlled press, which have for decades hunted down all Nationals: brutally, intolerantly, unrelentingly and hatefully.”

Schmidt is known as the President of GANPAC, a political action committee which represents the interests of Germans and Americans of German descent living in the United States. Schmidt has been a U.S. citizen since 1955. In the past, Schmidt has been outspoken in his views on the rehabilitation of the German soldiers' image. He has stated that this image has been tarnished by incessant media attacks.

Schmidt has been sent to a prison in Schweirn. He is being represented by Hajo Herrmann, the attorney who defended U.S. gas chamber expert Fred A. Leuchter Jr. , who was also arrested in Germany for thought-crimes. Schmidt has been charged under Article 130 of the German penal code. If found guilty, Schmidt “shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of three months to five years.”

Recently, individuals in the U.S. have organized protests at various international airports. Protesters have distributed a Travelers Alert for travelers going to Germany. Concerned Americans have written letters of protest to the White House and have distributed various warnings on the Internet .

Adapted from: The Spotlight, August 28, 1995, September 4, 1995 (300 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003) and Smith's Report Number 26, September 1995.

Bibliographic information about this document: The Spotlight, August 28, 1995, September 4, 1995, "Smith's Report" Number 26, September 1995
Other contributors to this document: n/a
Editor’s comments: n/a

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