An Indirect Apology

Günter Oettinger, CDU state premier in Baden-Württemberg, has provoked cross-party condemnation for whitewashing the deeds of Hans Filbinger and later standing by his statements in the face of calls to apologize coming from many sides.

Filbinger was responsible for issuing a number of death sentences as a military judge under the Nazis.

In his speech at the service, Oettinger said Filbinger was "not a National Socialist." He added: "On the contrary, he was an opponent of the Nazi regime, who was unable to withstand the pressures of the brutal regime like millions of others."

As one of a panel of military judges, Filbinger voted for the execution of four sailors who deserted. Oettinger approvingly quoted Filbinger's statement that his conscience was clear because none were actually caught and shot.

Unintentional disrespect

Oettinger toned down his statements after causing an uproar in German political circles.

"It was never my intention to hurt those persecuted or the victims," he told the Bild newspaper on Monday. "If that is the case, I am sorry and I apologize for that.

"I am troubled that I am being accused of having declared Hans Filbinger a resistance fighter. That he was not and I never said that," Oettinger added.

Germany's Central Council of Jews has called the apology "a first step". But Stephan Kramer, general secretary of the organization, told a Bavarian radio station that Oettinger's "revisionist" statements had caused so much damage that a simple apology was not enough.

"He's caused a lot of damage through these revisionist remarks that cannot be fixed just by saying he is sorry," Kramer said, adding that the council would maintains its call for Oettinger to resign.

Meeting with council slated

Oettinger has offered to meet the council's representatives and a discussion is reported to have been scheduled for later this week.

On Friday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuked Oettinger for his funeral eulogy, saying she wished he did not ignore the facts surrounding Filbinger's under the Nazi regime. Social Democratic Party leader Kurt Beck has accused Oettinger of attempting to curry favor with right-wing voters with his remarks.

An executive meeting of the CDU leadership due to take place on Monday looks set to be stormy after the issue dominated the German media over the weekend.

Filbinger was Baden-Württemberg's premier from 1966 up to 1978 when he was forced to resign from office after his involvement in sentencing people to death became public.

Filbinger, who died this month aged 93, also provoked outrage because of his failure to face up to his past. When probed about his actions, he told the Spiegel news magazine, "What was the law then cannot now be illegal."