Nazi Active Here

West German Ambassador to New Zealand Eckart Briest hit the headlines in Wellington last month when he reported on what he saw as the dangerously increasing activity of communists in West Germany. He described the activity of communists in the universities, and claimed that anti-communist staff were gradually retiring, leaving the field to professors "who taught communist principles."

Coming from German lips the words had a familiar ring, which is not surprising considering Briest's record.

Briest joined the Nazi party in 1933, when it was not even fashionable. From 1941-1943 he served as a legation secretary in Information Department III of the Nazi Foreign Ministry. This Department was concerned with foreign intelligence. At various times Briest served his Nazi bosses as a spy in Finland, China and the USA. From 1943 to 1945 he was a Wehrmacht officer.

After the war Briest was appointed German ambassador to South America's Neo-Nazi republic, Paraguay. In 1966 he became ambassador to Uraguay. Now he is ambassador to NZ.

Of course Briest is not unique. His predecessor in the post of West German ambassador to NZ was Kurt Luedde-Neurath, a Nazi Party member (1938 vintage), and retired stormtropper who began his diplomatic career in Tokyo before 1945. Throughout the world 62 countries are honoured by the presence of at least one German diplomat with a Nazi record.