Devotional objects hoarded

NS sticker brought Vorarlberger to court

The defendant wanted to play down his actions and spoke of youthful recklessness.(Bild: Dorn / Krone KREATIV)

The defendant spoke of juvenile nonsense at the trial at Feldkirch Regional Court on Wednesday, but the jury called it a crime.

You don't have to be a neo-Nazi with combat boots to engage in National Socialist activities," prosecutor Philipp Höfle reminded the jury at yesterday's trial. The 28-year-old defendant embodies exactly this image. He is blameless, has a regular job and has been in the fire department for twelve years. Colleagues describe him as extremely helpful, courteous and committed.

Just reading what you wrote in your WhatsApp messages makes me ashamed of you!

Richter Dietmar Nußbaumer

However, if you look behind the façade, his inhuman attitude glorifying National Socialism is revealed. This would probably have remained undiscovered for even longer if a civilian investigator had not noticed the SS armored division sticker on the trunk of the defendant's car. The 28-year-old is then reported to the police. During the search of the house, the officers make a real find. In addition to numerous SS flags and other Nazi devotional objects, they also seize relevant propaganda material and books, including "Mein Kampf", "Die Auschwitzlüge" and "Der Untermensch".

Cell phone analysis brings some things to light
The analysis of the cell phone also shows the brown mindset. He repeatedly sent short videos and messages with content such as "If you're brown, you'll get women", "We need the guys with the double Z again!" or "It's definitely time for a Holocaust again." When asked by the presiding judge about the defendant's intention to advocate genocide, he replied: "I never really thought about it. It was juvenile nonsense." In the meantime, he had also visited concentration camps. What he had seen was terrible.

Before the verdict is announced, the defendant apologizes. After the jury, Judge Dietmar Nußbaumer found the man guilty. The final sentence: 15 months in prison on probation and a fine of 6480 euros.