Stuttgart - Thousands of Germans marched against NATO, neo-Nazism and war over the Easter holiday weekend.
Yesterday, about 300 people blocked the entrance to the US European Command headquarters in Stuttgart. Police brought the protest under control within 20 minutes after carrying away about 60 demonstrators, officials said. Across Germany, about 10,000 pacifists took part in Easter peace marches in 60 cities in what has become a tradition in recent decades. In Berlin, about 500 people gathered at the central Brandenburg Gate to oppose German army involvement in foreign conflicts. In the western town of Hagen in the industrial Ruhr region, 120 far-right supporters also held a march under heavy police protection. Police detained two for displaying banned Nazi symbols. Another 800 opposed to far-right groups held a rival demonstration, with 1,500 police on hand to separate the opposing sides and prevent violence, officials said.