We remember Helmut Sackers, who stood up against inhuman ideology 21 years ago and lost his life for it. Helmut Sackers was stabbed to death by a neo-Nazi in Halberstadt in 2000.
It was preceded by an argument between him and his neighbour Andreas S. The neo-Nazi, known throughout the town, was playing the banned Horst Wessel song, the marching song of the SA, which is why Sackers called the police. After they had left the building without taking action, Sackers and his neighbour met once more in the stairwell. Helmut Sackers died. He bled to death from four stab wounds.
Despite numerous contradictions and obvious false statements in court, Andreas S. was acquitted. The confession he had made in the police car was not used. On appeal the judge accepted the defendant’s account of self-defence. According to the defendant’s version, the 60-year-old pensioner Helmut Sackers — physically weaker and suffering from lung disease — is supposed to have attacked the 33-year-old Andreas S., who merely defended himself. The result of this encounter: Andreas S. had not a single scratch or defensive injury. Helmut Sackers, by contrast, had a broken cheekbone, numerous bruises and four stab wounds from a blade 17 centimetres long.
The far-right background of Andreas S. was — as was often the case at the time — completely ignored. This is why Helmut Sackers is to this day not officially recorded as a victim of right-wing violence. All the more important, then, is public recognition of his act of civil courage. Helmut Sackers’ friends credit him with values such as tolerance and a commitment to democracy — values incompatible with the ideology of National Socialism. That is why it mattered so much to him to report his neighbour’s Nazi music, to stand up for his values and to defend them. This courage, this civil courage, is what distinguishes Helmut Sackers.
Detailed information and background on the case is provided by the Mobile Counselling Service for Victims of Right-Wing Violence in Saxony-Anhalt: Helmut Sackers – Right-wing violence in Saxony-Anhalt (rechte-gewalt-sachsen-anhalt.de)
The Mobile Victim Counselling Service has also published educational material for independent study together with ideas for further work: Bildungsmaterial.pdf (rechte-gewalt-sachsen-anhalt.de)
Commemoration of Helmut Sackers 2021
29 April 2019: “Strengthening democracy – combating right-wing extremism”
Commemoration of Helmut Sackers
16th anniversary of Helmut Sackers’ death: call for public commemoration