Neo-Nazis duped into raising money for anti-extremist organization

A small German town tricked hundreds of neo-Nazis into raising more than $12,000 for a charity that helps neo-Nazis leave the extremist group.

BY KTAR.COM

Nov 19, 2014, 12:19 AM Updated: Apr 24, 2015, 8:06 pm

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Most of the world’s towns have a quintessential complaint. For some, it’s poor drainage during storms, or perhaps the mailman is a little late in the morning. For one small town in Germany, it’s neo-Nazis.

Despite the best efforts of residents to stop them, for decades, rightists have gathered in Wunsiedel to march for their cause because one of Hitler’s deputies was once buried there. Although the deputy’s remains have been moved and the grave destroyed, the neo-Nazis keep coming.

This year, the residents decided instead of shuttering their windows, they would fight back.

Their solution is one of the most clever pranks ever to be pulled.

The townspeople collaborated with an organization called Rechts gegen Rechts, or “Right against Right.” The charity has a program called EXIT Deutschland, which helps extremists escape from their radical groups.

Citizens and local businesses sponsored the 250 extremist marchers, so with every step the neo-Nazis took during the Nov. 15 display, they would be raising money for an organization designed to fund defections from groups like their own.

They didn’t know about the campaign until the march had already started of course, when they were cheered on with signs made by the organization with sayings like, “If only the Führer knew!”

When all the far-right extremists finally reached the finish line, they had raised 10,000 Euros, or about $12,500, for EXIT Deutschland.

The event was coined Germany’s “most involuntary walkathon,” although it could have just as easily been called, “the world’s most ingenious trick.”