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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
© 1972, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation
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to do to escape into the Eastern Zone is buy a ticket
on the S-Bahn. I recall to your attention that the defendant went to Potsdam
for the data she cites in her pamphlet."
Throughout these arguments
Judge Drygalla was coolly polite to me. He allowed me to speak without
interruption, even when I rebuked him by saying, "Your hasty procedure is very
reminiscent of the Nazi courts."
My slap had been merely symbolic. I
had no intention of doing the Chancellor any physical harm. The prosecutor,
however, tried to shatter this argument.
"Her act of violence was an
attack on the honor of the person she slapped. Does it have to be explained for
a proper legal interpretation of the incident that a slap in the face is an
insult? The court, therefore, has no need of proofs or of witnesses to the
offense for it to be evident that the victim has suffered physical and
psychological harm from being slapped. Furthermore, the character of the
offender is important and must not be overlooked when you render your decision
on the penalty of imprisonment I am asking."
Before retiring to
consider the case, the judge made a statement that worried me:
"Germany
has been the scene of violent political conflicts before, and the history of
our times has blamed the Weimar Republic for not having put a quick end to the
disturbances that occurred during its regime."
The verdict was returned
a few minutes later: "One year in prison. The reasons adduced will be made
known to the public by being published in six mass circulation national
newspapers at the expense of the defendant."
That would have cost me
more than fifty thousand marks.
Even Mahler, who was used to harsh
sentences, was astonished. As for me, I was stunned. I felt a band of iron
closing around my chest. How could I endure a year away from Serge and Arno?
I hardly heard Mahler ask: "Have you anything to say to the court?
Don't worry. Of course we'll appeal."
"You've got to do something. I
won't go to jail for anything in the world."
It was a cry from the
depths of my being. Then an almost ungovernable rage overcame me as I addressed
the president of the tribunal.
"I demand that you take into
consideration that, owing to my
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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
© 1972, The
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