NPD MEMBERS MARCH WITH BANNERS; POLICE ESCORTING THEM; WREATH LAID TO PETER FECHTER MEMORIAL AT THE WALL NEAR CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MARCHERS WITH TORCHES AT MEMORIAL; POLICE MOVE NPD MEMBERS ON.




Initials RM/VS/AS/OS



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Background: ABOUT 200 MEMBERS OF THE RIGHTIST NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WEST GERMANY WERE HECKLED BY ABOUT 600 PEOPLE -- MAINLY STUDENTS -- WHEN THEY TRIED TO STAGE A SILENT MARCH NEAR THE BERLIN WALL YESTERDAY (TUESDAY). THE STUDENTS SHOUTED "NAZIS OUT, NAZIS OUT", AND SOME OF THEM JUMPED INTO THE MARCHING COLUMN AND BROKE SOME OF THE POSTERS CARRIED BY THE MARCHERS.

YESTERDAY WAS THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ERECTION OF THE BERLIN WALL BY THE RUSSIANS AND EAST GERMANS. THE NPD MARCHERS SET OUT WITH CRUDELY-MADE POSTERS AND BANNERS, THE LARGEST ONE READING "BONN HAS FAILED -- OUR HOPE IS THE NPD". THEY HAD HARDLY WALKED ABOUT 500 YARDS (METRES) FLANKED BY AN EQUAL NUMBER OF POLICE WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED THE CROWD OF HECKLERS.

THE MARCHERS USED STICKS TO HIT BACK FURIOUSLY AT HECKLERS WHO TRIED TO SEIZE THEIR BANNERS, WHICH ALSO CARRIED SLOGANS SUCH AS "DOWN WITH THE WALL" AND "AGAINST RECOGNITION OF EAST GERMANY". THE POLICE, WHO HAD EARLIER AGREED TO THE MARCH, BROKE UP THE CLASH. LATER, THE MARCHERS MOVED ON TO THE PETER FECHTER MEMORIAL AND LAID A WREATH. THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY DISPERSED BY THE POLICE.