Auschwitz scandal: Court protects students after outrageous incident!

Auschwitz scandal: Court protects students after outrageous incident!

In Greifswald, an incident is causing a stir that concerns not only the school community, but also society as a whole. Two students from the Fischer School made a gesture during a study trip to the Auschwitz concentration camp memorial that was seen as right-wing extremist. One student showed the so-called “white power salute” and his classmate filmed and shared the video on social networks. The student is seen in a video making a hand gesture that looks similar to the infamous sign, as MoPo reports.

The incident had significant consequences: The Ministry of Education of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania confirmed that the students were initially expelled from school and were being transferred to different schools in order to continue their education there. Both students are suspended from classes pending a final decision, leading to much public debate. The parents of the two want to legally defend themselves against the expulsion from school.

Court order and social concerns

In a surprising step, the Greifswald Administrative Court has now temporarily stopped the expulsion of one of the ninth graders. According to the court, it is not clear that the gesture can actually be interpreted as a “white power sign”. This decision was met with criticism, particularly from the International Auschwitz Committee, which expressed concerns about the handling of right-wing extremist tendencies in society.

The court reasoned that the student's finger position did not meet the criteria for the "OK sign" or the "white power sign." The judges also criticized the fact that the decision to involve the school authority was not made by the school conference, but by a sub-committee. Apparently the school district did not thoroughly investigate the intention of the gesture. The student did not attract any negative attention in everyday school life.

Right-wing extremism in schools – a sensitive topic

Dealing with right-wing extremism in schools is a major challenge, especially these days. Not only are educational institutions required to take preventative measures, but teachers should also be trained to deal with extremist incidents professionally. This includes strategies for safe handling, prevention measures and cooperation with the police and youth welfare services.

A similar incident occurred in Görlitz in March 2025, when four students also showed the “white power salute”. Such incidents raise questions about how schools can create a cosmopolitan climate and how they should respond to anti-democratic and racist statements. Educational offers and teaching materials that address how to deal with right-wing extremism are therefore essential, as can be found on Bildungsserver.de.

The public and educational institutions have a responsibility to counter the dangerous tendencies of right-wing extremism. There is a need for clear signals and a serious discussion of these issues so that young people can be protected from anti-constitutional positions.

The events surrounding the students from Greifswald are an urgent call for awareness and vigilance. Because not only the well-being of the students is at stake, but also of society as a whole.

For further information about the incident, read more at MoPo, Tagesschau and Bildungsserver.de.