Nazi Victims' Association Wants Resignation of Spanish Govt. Representative in Catalonia

The Nazi extermination camp victims' association, Amical de Mauthausen, has demanded the resignation of the Spanish Government's Delegada, or representative, in Catalonia, Maria de los Llanos de Luna. The Delegada recently awarded a certificate of merit to the members of the Division Azul, a Spanish volunteer army division that swore allegiance to Hitler and fought on the side of the Nazis during the Second World War.

This is their press statement:

Request for the Resignation of the Spanish Government Representative in Catalonia

Barcelona, 21 of May, 2013

Only a few days ago, the Amical de Mauthausen and other camps issued a press release in which we made patent the insensitivity of the government of Spain and of its regions for the lack of initiative in organising events commemorating the liberation of Mauthausen, an extermination camp where thousands of Spanish Republicans were butchered, in obvious contrast with the attitude of other European countries, honouring the victims, including the Spanish Republicans.

Today we condemn, once again before public opinion, what we consider to be an act by the Delegada or representative of the Spanish Government in Catalonia, Ms. Maria de los Llanos de Luna, of extraordinary, grave consequence.

While in the rest of Europe the end of World War II and the defeat of National Socialism were being commemorated, just one week after the remembrance in homage to the thousands of victims murdered in Mauthausen, the Delegada honored the memory of those who had fought alongside the Nazis, something beyond comprehension in the rest of Europe.

Before the ignominy of such an event, the Amical de Mauthausen demands the resignation of the Delegada, as we believe her unworthy of representing the Spanish government. By decorating those who bore arms in the Division Azul defending the Nazis in the trenches, she humiliates and belittles the millions of victims of Nazism who were butchered in concentration camps along with the thousands of Spanish exiles who bore arms against the Nazi forces of occupation.

It is about time politicians who claim to represent us should not act as if they are ignorant of these fact, at least, unless they are acting in bad faith. In any case, they should be expected to take responsibility for their acts. And if resignation for such a grave situation is not forthcoming, dismissal is an obligation for those to whom it behoves, lest they be considered accomplices.

We hold responsible all those elected officials who attended the ceremony we have denounced. It is not acceptable that a socialist mayor has done nothing more than admit his error once the event was made public, and not immediately of his own volition, and furthermore failing to offer his resignation for this grave oversight. While this mayor was in the coterie of those who decorated the supporters of National Socialism, a Socialist councillor from the city of Santa Coloma de Gramenet had taken murdered in the tribute before the monument erected in Mauthausen to the Spanish republicans killed there.

The excuse given by Mr. José Bono, then the Spanish Minister of Defence, when he made a similar blunder having a representation of the División Azul march in a military parade, was that it was improper. Can anyone even imagine a parade in Germany with representatives of the SS as an act of reconciliation? Reconciliation with Nazism is not possible, because Nazism is not an opinion but a doctrine that caused the greatest barbarity ever suffered by mankind. That is why the Amical Mauthausen has repeatedly insisted that one cannot trivialize Nazism, something many of our irresponsible politicians tend to do too often. The European press has often been shocked that these cases, such as these we denounce, are possible in Spain, while most politicians turn a blind eye and will take no responsibility.

The Amical de Mauthausen and other camps will continue to fight for that “Never again!” the oath of the survivors of Nazi camps to express their commitment.

Never again National Socialism, never again Fascism, never again bigotry, never again trivialization of the Holocaust!

Amical de Mauthausen and other camps, and all the victims of Nazism in Spain