Survivors of the German concentration and extermination camps in many countries are appalled and disconcerted by the unwise and scandalous decision of the Berlin tax office to withdraw the non-profit status from the Association of Victims of the Nazi regime – Anti-fascist Federation VVN/BdA, thus threatening its existence.

In Berlin Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, stressed:

"The VVN was founded in 1947 by Jewish and non-Jewish survivors of the concentration camps and torture chambers of the Nazis. These survivors have actively raised the social and political awareness of generations of young people in Germany who are now involved within the country’s democratic spectrum. From the very beginning, and to this day, old and young members of the VVN/BdA have been particularly involved in countering the massive revival of right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism. At a time when everyday right-wing extremist excesses and threats are rife, the fact that this organisation is being excluded from the democratic community in Germany and its existence is being threatened, is a scandal for survivors of the concentration camps. This scandal damages the image of Germany and significantly weakens the common European commitment against right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism.”