WHEREVER THEY MAY BE © 1972, The Beate Klarsfeld Foundation     Back   Contents Page 321 Home Page  Forward         remaining (23 days), as my case had to be submitted in revision to the Federal Court of Karlsruhe. In the courtroom, crowded with reporters from all over the world as well as resisters and deportees, there are sounds of protest. They start singing the Marseillaise. The verdict has heightened the effect of the trial. There is general indignation. Wednesday, July 10, Paris. At a huge demonstration before the German Embassy I am surrounded by a delirious crowd. Thousands of people demand ratification and declare their support of me. Our apartment is besieged by French and foreign press. I don't get a chance to stop talking, answering questions – especially about Achenbach, who is on his way to becoming the scapegoat of the bad conscience of the Germans. In fact, in Germany it was immediately recognized in political circles that the verdict was a disaster for the Federal government, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. The young democrats of Achenbach's Liberal party come to see us in Paris and take back with them two thousand photocopies of documents in our files. They hold a press conference in Bonn; they are going to demand that Achenbach resign as reporter of his committee to the Bundestag on the agreement. On July 22, this is accomplished. Achenbach resigns. The ratification will be approved. But by this time I have left Paris. So have Serge, Arno, Lida, and Petia; all five of us are in Israel. We are honored in Jerusalem. Gradually the turmoil of the trial, which has more than fulfilled our hopes, is stilled. In Germany public opinion, except for the extreme right, is changing in my favor. A Liberal deputy nominates me for the Theodor Heuss Prize "for having awakened the German conscience." I am also nominated by the "Christian-Political" movement for the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the legion of honor. Perhaps someday I may even be a prophet in my own country.   WHEREVER THEY MAY BE © 1972, The Beate Klarsfeld Foundation  Back Page 321 Forward
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