In Flensburg, shop owner Hans Velten Reisch sparked outrage by posting a sign banning Jews from his store.
The note read: “Jews are banned from here! Nothing personal. No antisemitism. Just can’t stand you.”
Police removed the sign Wednesday evening “to prevent danger” and preserve public order, spokesperson Philipp Renoncourt confirmed.
Reporters later noted the same message remained visible on an inside wall opposite the entrance door.
The case triggered heated debate across the city and on social media, with users condemning the notice as deeply discriminatory.
Some compared the sign to Nazi-era practices, while others called for boycotts, protests, or even violent retaliation.
By Thursday morning, graffiti reading “Nazis out” appeared on the shop window.
Leaders Condemn Antisemitic Message
Mayor Fabian Geyer condemned the sign, calling it “a reminder of the darkest chapters of Germany’s history.”
He stressed that it represented “a clear statement against Jews in our society” and had no place in Flensburg.
Local Greens labeled the note “a clear expression of antisemitism” that mocked Jewish suffering and undermined democratic values.
SPD state parliament member Kianusch Stender said Flensburg must “always take a stand against antisemitism everywhere.”
Former mayor Simone Lange reported the case to police herself and condemned the incident publicly on Facebook.
Antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein called it “a very clear case of antisemitism” and urged decisive intervention.
Federal Education Minister Karin Prien stated that antisemitism “goes against everything democratic coexistence stands for.”
MEP Rasmus Andresen described the message as “inhuman” and demanded stronger protections against discrimination at EU level.
Police confirmed at least four official complaints against Reisch, now under review by prosecutors for possible incitement charges.
Shop Owner Defends Himself Amid Backlash
Hans Velten Reisch, 60, has run his Flensburg shop since 2016, specializing in technical manuals for vehicles.
He rejected accusations of extremism, insisting, “I’m not a Nazi” and describing himself as politically mixed but not radical.
He criticized modern language use, claiming people misuse terms like “racism” and labeling as Nazi those with different views.
Reisch complained about politics, media, bureaucracy, and the West’s policy toward Israel, which he called “hypocrisy.”
He said he no longer serves customers he believes support Israel’s war and added, “I don’t need people like that.”
At the same time, he claimed he accepts Jews who distance themselves from Israel’s war, saying, “They can have a coffee too.”
Reisch admitted surprise at the massive response, stating, “I never thought it would make such a big splash.”
He insisted the message targeted his immediate surroundings and said, “I’m not inciting hatred, I’m just saying what I think.”
