Summary about the scandalous trial against the Rennicke family as published in the Lübscher Aufklärer, December 2002

Politicized Justice!

Frank Rennicke and his wife were convicted because of the song Heimatvertriebenen-Lied [a song about the German people expelled from their ancestral homeland in the eastern regions of Germany after 1945.] The verdict will likely mean the prohibition of the continuation of exercising his profession. The court's decision is considered a breach of basic German law in national circles.

After eight days of trial proceedings, Judge Zimmert announced to the court of law the following scandalous verdict: One year and five months prison within a period of probation for thee years for Frank Rennicke, and five months prison within a period of probation of three years for his wife Ute. Their previously confiscated account of over DM 70,000.00, as well as the confiscated CD's, master tapes and computer equipment, remains seized by the authorities.

Consequently, the court of law relinquished the verdict of the Böblingen court of November 2000, whereby Frank Rennicke was sentenced to 10 months within a period of probation and his wife Ute charged with a penalty of DM 1,000.00. »Whoever is against the multicultural society, is adopting the racial ideology of the National Socialist's Regime which will lead to crimes and must be fought with all severeness of the law...!«, according to Judge Zimmert's speech during the verdict. He imputed Frank Rennicke had promoted violence against foreigners in his songs, which would agitate »the peaceful coexistence between foreigners and German citizens.«

Although the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied and other songs by Frank Rennicke were heard in the court room, as requested by the defense lawyers - it was easy to see, that the judge paid little attention. Those who know the songs by Frank Rennicke, also know that he represents himself as a responsible father of a large family, who worries about the future of his children in our slowly deteriorating country. How, by all means, can the necessity for the preservation of ones own identity and culture represent a call for violence?

It was moving to hear Frank Rennicke recall to the court and the audience the formative years of his youth in his hometown of Braunschweig, near the former border to East Germany and tell of the plight of the forced separation between the two Germanys. He shared the predicament of so many Germans affected by this separation. This and other experiences caused him in the mid-eighties, to set the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied - originally a poem by the Austrian poet Karl Leipert - to music, which describes the injustice of expelling the Germans from the Sudentenland, their ancestral homeland, and calls for the right for sovereignty, freedom and identity for the German people at present time. Frank Rennicke described the reasons that led him to compose and sing the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied, although the court was not particularly interested in hearing about it, yet accepted Ute Rennicke's request that her husband do so.

One could ascertain from the many taped telephone conversations that were played in the court room, that Frank Rennicke had not distributed any state-prohibited CD's and that his wife Ute, had merely written down a phone message in regard to a mail order, in order to later relate to her husband.

Upon further request by Frank Rennicke, the witness Christoph Schiele, a police officer at the Stuttgart County Court, had to admit that no evidence of any involvement by Ute Rennicke regarding her husband's business could be found.

It was also proven, that at the time of previous house searches at the Rennicke residence, confiscated CD's containing the song in question were subsequently returned by the authorities, without any kind of indication that the content would or could be punishable by law. At the same time, other confiscated material was returned with the notice of its illegality and the prohibition of its distribution. Would that kind of conduct not lead one to think that the CD [containing the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied] was allowed for distribution without having to encounter any further restriction?

Aside from the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied, another issue was addressed during the trial proceedings, namely that of a flyer containing text about concentration camps, that allegedly had been added to a mail order. However, that particular parcel was routed to the SPD-mayor [SPD= Social Democratic Party] of Marburg, and not to the person it was really addressed to. This mayor opened the parcel and took it straight to the police. The text in the flyer examines the official historic version about German concentration camps, urging for unrestricted research in the matter. Upon the request by the defense lawyer Horst Mahler, Judge Zimmert reluctantly read the 38-page document to the audience.

Every single exonerating evidence was categorically ignored by the prosecutor, who demanded one year and 9 months without probation for Frank Rennicke, for the reason of ›inciting the population‹, and 6 months with a period of three years probation or Ute Rennicke, for the reason of complicity.

In a nearly 9-hour plead, the defense lawyer Horst Mahler, discussed the particulars of this scandalous prosecution in regard to the song, the restriction of freedom of speech and the restriction of freedom of artistic expression. He condemned the totalitarian methods by the ruling class and urged the judge and witnesses to protect the basic law. He urged the prosecutor further, to examine the truth in the documents he had submitted during his defense.

Then Ute Rennicke spoke her closing words. First she read two life-threatening letters against her family and again addressed the absurdity of the imputation of complicity against her. She mentioned the tapped telephone calls, which clearly should exonerate her from any wrong doing and asked the prosecutor if he really thought, that a mother of five children has still time to work in her husband's business. Her closing words were: »...Today, that I am responsible for my children, the fear addressed by my husband in his song of the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied, strikes a chord and has become very palpable. [...] I wish for a safe and fulfilled life in our country. If it cannot happen for my husband and myself, then I wish it at least for my children. And come what may: I will remain closely by the side of my husband, because I know that I can trust him, that he has done no wrong and will not do wrong in the future.« When she ended, the audience was so moved that it gave this brave mother of five children spontaneous applause, upon which the judge lost all his continence and threatened to have the courtroom vacated.

Following this, Frank Rennicke spoke about his life, his responsibility as a songwriter for more than 15 years, gave information about the nearly 8 years of governmental chicanery and political persecution, listed dozens of examples of governmental violence against him. He sharply confronted the prosecution and the police. Passionately he described himself and his family as victims of certain political circles and questioned the necessity of the horrendous effort by the prosecution, police and clerks, that had collected 7000 pages of inquiry into his case, hundreds of taped telephone calls not to mention spying on him and his family and threatening their lifes. His disappointment and anger about modern inquisition was tangible. He concluded with words by political nonconformists, who showed solidarity with the Rennicke family, as well as shock and disbelief over their treatment. He ended by reading a letter by a politician from the Social Democratic Party.

At last, all evidence brought forth by the defense was dismissed. The prosecutor with the two witnesses determined the Heimatvertriebenen-Lied as punishable by law. The court also imputed mailing the revisionist text, dismissing further »doubt in favor of the convicted«, stating that checking for the truth of its content was unnecessary, since the NS-crimes were obvious. All speeches by the convicted and their defense, made no impression upon the prosecution. When the verdict was read aloud, it was obvious that Frank Rennicke was convicted for his political view, not for any wrong ›action‹. The court accused Ute Rennicke for not having »distanced herself enough from her husband«. Frank Rennicke, highly distressed about the scandalous verdict, accused the prosecutor for »ruining the life of a family«.

Verdict, proof and argumentation and the preceding period of the case show, how the basic constitutional law for the citizenry of the national parties of the BRD is bent and distorted. Others, opposing the ›multicultural society‹ and speaking out for the preservation of our own people, will be affected as well. Uncommon in this trial, is the fact that a spouse was convicted as well. Every German must realize that this verdict represents a basic decision by the political system.

This case shows also, that the songs by Frank Rennicke and his work as such, are a thorn in the eyes of the authorities. The fact of his fame, the many performances he has given were used against him. The prosecutor even mentioned about the intent to examine the texts of other of Frank Rennicke's songs. This could be the next step closer to prohibit him the right to exercise his profession.

The courage demonstrated by Frank and Ute Rennicke before the court, representing in fact all nationalists is quite impressive and noteworthy. It may be nearly impossible for ›outsiders‹ [those within the political mainstream] to imagine the stress and pressure this family has been and is subjected to. Let us not simply watch in inertia how a family is being destroyed. Let us not just talk about camaraderie and national solidarity, but set them also into action. Especially for those persecuted by the state, who contribute with unbending courage to our nation. They need our support. Frank and Ute Rennicke have already applied for a revision of the verdict.

Detailed Info about the trial and its results, can be found on the homepage of Frank Rennicke or directly by mail:

Frank Rennicke
Postfach 1145
D-71135 Ehningen
Germany