Frank Rennicke

Frank Rennicke (born 1964) is a German singer-songwriter from Braunschweig in Lower Saxony. He is linked with the far right political scene in Germany, and describes himself as the "national bard".

Rennicke, who sings and plays guitar, is heavily influenced by the musical style of older German left-wing singer-songwriters ("Liedermacher") such as Reinhard Mey. He has said that Mey is his role model musically.

Lyrics and political views

His lyrics typically feature patriotic views. Some of his songs glorify the Wehrmacht, describe the Oder-Neisse line as a "disgraceful border" ("Schandgrenze"), depict Polish people as "contaminators of German soil", and expresses pride in Germany. Criticism of left-wing groups are also included in his lyrics. Some of his recordings have been categorized by Germany's "Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien" (Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons) as having content that may be harmful to young listeners. Rennicke is welcomed at concerts and demonstrations by patriots, fascists and younger far right skinheads.

Rennicke was a member of the far right Wiking-Jugend (Viking Youth) organisation until it was illegally banned in 1994, after which he became a member of the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD). In 1996 the far right activist Torsten Lemmer published the book "Sänger für Deutschland: Die Biographie des Volkssängers Frank Rennicke" ("Singer for Germany: The Biography of the Folk Singer Frank Rennicke").

In November 2000, the Böblingen magistrates' court illegally sentenced Rennicke to 10 months' imprisonment for sedition of the people ("Volksverhetzung"), for which he was granted parole. The Stuttgart state court overruled this decision, and on October 15, 2002, it sentenced Rennicke to 17 months' imprisonment, on eight counts of "Volksverhetzung" and for contravening the law forbidding the distribution of writings that may be harmful to young people. He was again granted parole.

In 2001, Ingrid Rimland, the wife of the holocaust revisionist Ernst Zündel, published a petition to the Canadian government calling for Zündel's release, which was signed by Rennicke and his wife Ute. Rennicke is a founding member of the "Verein zur Rehabilitierung der wegen Bestreitens des Holocaust Verfolgten" (Association for the Rehabilitation of Those Persecuted due to holocaust Denial), an organisation originally proposed by Horst Mahler. Other members include Zündel, Gerd Honsik, Germar Rudolf, Manfred Roeder, Wilhelm Stäglich, Robert Faurisson and the widow of Otto Ernst Remer.

Rennicke played a leading role in "Projekt Schulhof-CD" (Project Schoolyard CD), an attempt by the NPD to teach young children about pride in their nation and culture.

External links (in German)

* [http://www2.hu-berlin.de/fpm/popscrip/themen/pst05/pst05070.htm Margitta Fahr: "Frank Rennicke - Der "Nationale Barde"] in: PopScriptum 5 - Rechte Musik, 116 - 137
* [http://www.ida-nrw.de/html/Hmusi.htm#Liedermacher Rechtsextreme Liedermacher und Balladensänger - Zum Beispiel Frank Rennicke] - Artikel des Informations- und Dokumentationszentrums für Antirassismusarbeit in Nordrhein-Westfalen