Q&A: What’s happening in the second NSU trial?
Why is there a second NSU trial right now?
The NSU’s crimes would not have been possible without a broad network of supporters. In the investigation that began in November 2011, the police identified 107 individuals suspected of having aided the NSU. These individuals were involved in various ways: they are alleged to have provided identification documents or health insurance cards, rented apartments or vehicles, or helped procure weapons or money.
Of these individuals, only four were charged in the first NSU trial in Munich and were ultimately found guilty. The rest have so far gone unpunished. In this regard, it is somewhat surprising that the second NSU trial, which began in November 2025, is focusing on one person from this group: The defendant, Susann E., is accused of supporting a terrorist organization and aiding and abetting a serious case of extortion involving robbery.
Even the decision to allow the indictment was controversial: The Dresden Higher Regional Court found there was insufficient evidence to support the charge of supporting a terrorist organization, but the Federal Court of Justice disagreed and overturned that decision. In fact, the indictment was a long time coming: The verdict from the first NSU trial has been final since December 2021. It took another three years for the indictment for the second trial to be filed. The course of the proceedings offers no explanation as to why the Federal Prosecutor General waited so long to do so.
What’s happening in the second NSU trial?
The trial centers on the question of to what extent the defendant was privy to the activities of the NSU’s core trio. This question will be examined over a total of 26 days of proceedings. The court has heard testimony from various witnesses: police officers, acquaintances and friends from the defendant’s circle in Zwickau, people she met on vacation, and employees of a dental practice.
The questioning of convicted right-wing terrorist Beate Zschäpe received extensive media attention over a total of three days of proceedings. However, the questioning yielded little new information—partly because the court did not press the issue decisively when obvious contradictions arose. For those involved in the NSU case, this situation was extremely difficult to bear.
“Then Tell the Truth!”
– Gamze Kubaşık
Gamze Kubaşık, daughter of Mehmet Kubaşık, who was killed by the NSU, interrupted Zschäpe’s testimony on the second day: “Then tell the truth!” This outburst from the gallery draws attention to another fact: Joint plaintiffs are not permitted in this trial. The victims are actually only allowed to watch in silence, without the right to speak or ask questions. The trial is now nearing its end: the prosecution and the defense are presenting their closing arguments, and the verdict will be handed down on July 17.
By Jörg Buschmann
For more information, visit nsu-watch.de
