German Teachers Report Students for 'Hitler Salute' but Face Transfer Threat Instead

As the popularity of far-right parties gradually grows in Germany, controversy is escalating as teachers who reported the widespread far-right behavior among students in schools are instead facing transfer orders.

According to foreign media on the 29th (local time), two teachers at 'Mina Witkoike' High School in the city of Burg, Brandenburg state in eastern Germany, recently wrote an open letter criticizing students for seemingly glorifying the Nazis. However, they became targets not only of students and parents but also of local residents.

According to the school's teachers Laura Nickel and Max Teske, students greeted each other with Nazi salutes and carved swastika symbols, which represent the Nazis, onto desks and dictionaries. They also played music with racist lyrics in the hallways.

These teachers counseled the students, educated them about the Nazis, and even held special classes inviting Black rappers to teach mutual respect. However, when these efforts proved ineffective, they anonymously sent a letter to a local newspaper in April to expose the situation within the school.

In the letter, they appealed, "Teachers and students who openly fight against far-right students are concerned for their safety."

However, after the letter was made public, the two teachers reportedly began receiving threats. Despite the letter being anonymous, stickers with their photos and the slang phrase "Go to Berlin" were posted on streetlights near the school. Additionally, posts saying "Let's find them" appeared on social media.

Anonymous parents demanded their dismissal. As the threats intensified, the teachers eventually reported the incidents to the police. However, the school principal and local education authorities took no significant action. Fellow teachers also remained silent.

Greatly disappointed, the two teachers ultimately applied for transfers.

Nickel told reporters, "Far-right extremist remarks and behaviors, slogans, homophobia, and sexism were everyday occurrences at this school."

After the letters from Nickel and Teske were made public, similar incidents were reported at other schools in eastern Germany.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.