|
|
Article: For a former prisoner of Nazis, Haider is no Hitler.(Opinion)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- February 23, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
A roar of protest went up across Europe when the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) became junior partner in a new coalition government. Political leaders and press denounced the FPO as neo-Nazi. The European Union (EU) conjured up a revival of Adolf Hitler in the person of Jorg Haider, the FPO chief, poisoning Europe with hatred, racism, and xenophobia. They announced punitive measures against Austria, diplomatic isolation, and economic sanctions.
The historical premise is false. Adolph Hitler did not appear out of a clear blue sky. He clawed his way up over 15 years in a Germany demoralized by defeat, humiliated by the vengeful treaty of Versailles, and ...