Shop owner Hans Velten Reisch angered locals and beyond by posting a sign banning Jews from his store.
The sign 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 protect public order, spokesperson Philipp Renoncourt said.
Reporters noted the message remained visible on a wall inside the shop opposite the entrance.
The incident triggered heated debate locally and online, with many condemning the sign as discriminatory and offensive.
Some compared it to Nazi-era persecution, while others called for boycotts or public action.
By Thursday, protesters smeared the shop window with slogans like “Nazis out.”
Political Leaders Condemn Antisemitism
Mayor Fabian Geyer said the sign “reminds us of the darkest chapters of Germany’s history” and has no place in Flensburg.
He called it “a clear statement against Jews in our society,” not a personal opinion.
The Greens labeled the notice “a clear expression of antisemitism” mocking Jewish suffering and threatening democratic values.
SPD politician Kianusch Stender said Flensburg must oppose antisemitism everywhere, citing the city’s historical responsibility.
Former mayor Simone Lange personally reported the incident to police.
Antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein called it “a very clear case of antisemitism” and demanded authorities intervene immediately.
Education Minister Karin Prien emphasized that antisemitism “contradicts everything democratic coexistence represents” and praised police action.
MEP Rasmus Andresen described the sign as “inhuman” and called for stronger European protections against discrimination.
Police confirmed at least four complaints against Reisch, now under review by prosecutors for possible incitement charges.
Shop Owner Defends Himself
Hans Velten Reisch, 60, has run the Flensburg shop since 2016, selling technical manuals for vehicles.
He rejected accusations of extremism, insisting, “I’m not a Nazi,” and describing himself as politically mixed but not radical.
Reisch criticized modern language, claiming terms like “racism” are overused and misapplied.
He expressed frustration with politics, bureaucracy, media, and Germany’s Israel policy, which he called “hypocrisy.”
He said he no longer serves customers he believes support Israel’s war: “I don’t need people like that.”
He added that Jews who distance themselves from the war “can have a coffee too.”
Reisch admitted surprise at the massive reaction, saying, “I never thought it would make such a big splash.”
He maintained the sign targeted only his immediate surroundings and insisted, “I’m not inciting hatred, I’m just saying what I think.”
