Reinhard Günzel (born April 5, 1944 in
The Hague) is a former
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
general. He joined the
Bundeswehr in 1963. He commanded the parachute battalion in Merzig, a hunting regiment in Trier and the Jägerbrigade in Frankenberg. He also studied history and philosophy in
Tübingen. He was the commander of the
Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) from November 2000 until November 2003.
Günzel was dismissed in 2003 because he expressed his solidarity with
antisemitic
Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism.
Antis ...
statements by
Christian Democratic Union member of the federal parliament
Martin Hohmann
Martin Hohmann (born 4 February 1948) is a German lawyer and politician of the AfD party. He was a member of the German Parliament ("Bundestag") for the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), from 1998 until 2005. From 2017 to 2021, he ...
. Günzel send a letter supporting Hohmann, and his speech that compared "the actions of Jews in the 1917 Russian revolution with those of the Nazis". Günzel was fired from his position as General by Defence Minister
Peter Struck. Hohmann became a member of the far-right
Alternative for Germany
Alternative for Germany (german: link=no, Alternative für Deutschland, AfD; ) is a right-wing populist
*
*
*
*
*
*
* political party in Germany. AfD is known for its opposition to the European Union, as well as immigration to Germany. I ...
.
Günzel is the author of ''Secret Warriors'', a book in which, according to a 2020 article in ''The New York Times'', "he placed the KSK in the tradition of a notorious special forces unit under the Nazis that committed numerous war crimes
Brandenburgers)">Brandenburgers.html" ;"title="Brandenburgers">Brandenburgers) including massacres of Jews. He has been a popular speaker at far-right events".
References
Publications
* Götz Kubitschek, Reinhard Günzel: ''Und plötzlich ist alles politisch. Im Gespräch mit Brigadegeneral Reinhard Günzel''. 2., durchgesehene Auflage. Edition Antaios, Schnellroda 2004, .
* Reinhard Günzel,
Ulrich K. Wegener, Wilhelm Walther: ''Geheime Krieger. Drei deutsche Kommandoverbände im Bild''.
Pour le Mérite, Selent 2005, .
* Reinhard Günzel: ''Vorwort''. In: H. Hoffmann: ''Die Flinte. Waffe, Werkzeug, Sportgerät''. DWJ, Blaufelden 2005, .
* Dokumentation: ''Der Fall Hohmann-Günzel''. VHS-Video oder DVD. Berlin 2004.
External links
*
* Netzzeitung
CSU-Verteidigungsexperte nimmt entlassenen KSK-General in Schutz* Welt
* taz
Ein General wechselt die Front* Spiegel Onlin
* Junge Freihei
1944 births
Living people
Brigadier generals of the German Army
Military personnel from The Hague
{{Germany-army-bio-stub