Malcolm Hilgartner

Meckel also told me that the Volksbund staff almost exclusively focused on identifying the graves of German soldiers and ignored civilian remains. Before long, the new president was looking into the Volksbund's finances. One concern was that with each year, there were fewer war widows still alive to make contributions, and the organization's income was declining.

Meckel also told me that the Volksbund staff almost exclusively focused on identifying the graves of German soldiers and ignored civilian remains. Before long, the new president was looking into the Volksbund's finances. One concern was that with each year, there were fewer war widows still alive to make contributions, and the organization's income was declining.

But equally troubling, Meckel said, was that some of the remaining donors had very questionable backgrounds. In one case, Meckel found that a large contributor was actually an organization that he suspected was founded by SS veterans. The group now sent money through a charitable foundation to obscure the funding's Nazi ties, Meckel told me. The question is, who is sponsoring this, he said.

But equally troubling, Meckel said, was that some of the remaining donors had very questionable backgrounds. In one case, Meckel found that a large contributor was actually an organization that he suspected was founded by SS veterans. The group now sent money through a charitable foundation to obscure the funding's Nazi ties, Meckel told me. The question is, who is sponsoring this, he said.

When I approached the Volksbund about the matter, it identified the group as the mutual aid organization of former Waffen-SS, a group that was known by its German initials, HIAG, and was eventually dissolved after numerous controversies. The Volksbund confirmed that HIAG's assets had been transferred to a foundation it worked with afterward.

When I approached the Volksbund about the matter, it identified the group as the mutual aid organization of former Waffen-SS, a group that was known by its German initials, HIAG, and was eventually dissolved after numerous controversies. The Volksbund confirmed that HIAG's assets had been transferred to a foundation it worked with afterward.

But the Volksbund said the Waffen-SS group saw itself as an aid organization and for this reason was free to donate. His frustration mounting, Meckel sought to set the record straight with a mission statement, a move that he hoped would be a first step to build momentum for bigger proposals. It turned out it would be Meckel's last crusade at the Volksbund.

But the Volksbund said the Waffen-SS group saw itself as an aid organization and for this reason was free to donate. His frustration mounting, Meckel sought to set the record straight with a mission statement, a move that he hoped would be a first step to build momentum for bigger proposals. It turned out it would be Meckel's last crusade at the Volksbund.

His proposal sought to clarify the group's stance on World War II, calling it a racist war of extermination, a standard description approved years before by the German parliament that placed the blame for the conflict squarely on Germany. but many in the Volksbund's rank and file balked.

His proposal sought to clarify the group's stance on World War II, calling it a racist war of extermination, a standard description approved years before by the German parliament that placed the blame for the conflict squarely on Germany. but many in the Volksbund's rank and file balked.

A group of reservists led the charge against Meckel, with one former general writing an article that called his proposal downright nonsense and dismissed the idea that the war was an extermination campaign as a historical theory that requires factual proof. Sometime in 2016, Meckel determined that his opponents had the votes to remove him and resigned.

A group of reservists led the charge against Meckel, with one former general writing an article that called his proposal downright nonsense and dismissed the idea that the war was an extermination campaign as a historical theory that requires factual proof. Sometime in 2016, Meckel determined that his opponents had the votes to remove him and resigned.

In his statement, the Volksbund said Meckel had fallen out with the organization because he had ignored decision-making processes within the association and did not involve the committees in his decisions, instead acting autonomously. This caused resentment within the association.

In his statement, the Volksbund said Meckel had fallen out with the organization because he had ignored decision-making processes within the association and did not involve the committees in his decisions, instead acting autonomously. This caused resentment within the association.

After Meckel went public about the resistance against his reforms, the Volksbund eventually approved war of extermination language similar to what Meckel was pushing for, though only after he was gone. Meckel told me he was shocked that it even had to be debated so many years after the war. But he was also skeptical that the wording made a difference in the end.

After Meckel went public about the resistance against his reforms, the Volksbund eventually approved war of extermination language similar to what Meckel was pushing for, though only after he was gone. Meckel told me he was shocked that it even had to be debated so many years after the war. But he was also skeptical that the wording made a difference in the end.

They might have approved their mission statement, but they didn't change their behavior, he told me. How do we mourn and remember these soldiers without honoring them? The bones exhumed from the van Beningen's garden in Wroclaw were set to be reburied on a rainy September day at a Volksbund cemetery on the outskirts of the city.

They might have approved their mission statement, but they didn't change their behavior, he told me. How do we mourn and remember these soldiers without honoring them? The bones exhumed from the van Beningen's garden in Wroclaw were set to be reburied on a rainy September day at a Volksbund cemetery on the outskirts of the city.

To the 128 bodies, the Volksbund had added an additional 178 remains, mainly Nazi soldiers it found at other sites around the city. A total of 306 people would be interred that day, I was told, in a military-style ceremony that would include a trumpeter and a chaplain. The Volksbund had also searched for relatives to attend, but found only one who was alive.

To the 128 bodies, the Volksbund had added an additional 178 remains, mainly Nazi soldiers it found at other sites around the city. A total of 306 people would be interred that day, I was told, in a military-style ceremony that would include a trumpeter and a chaplain. The Volksbund had also searched for relatives to attend, but found only one who was alive.