Swastika flags on site of planned Groningen wind farm

Flags with swastikas on them were planted in the grass of a pasture in the Groningen village of Zuidbroek. As a wind farm is planned in this location, RTV Noord concludes that this is a protest against the wind farm.

The flags read Bezet gebied, Dutch for occupied territory, and Sperrgebiet, a term used by the Nazis during the German occupation to indicate prohibited territory.

The name of energy company Innogy is also on the flags. The company calls the action inappropriate. "The landowners are even threatened. Such statements are disproportionate, especially now that the days of commemorating the Second World War and celebrating freedom are coming", the company said in a statement, according to broadcaster NOS.

Mayor Rein Munniksma of Midden-Groningen, which covers Zuidbroek, deputy Nienke Homan and her predecessors Marc Calon and William Moorlag are named on the flags. Previously flyers were found in the area on which Munniksma and Moorlag were depicted as Nazi camp executioners. 

The police confiscated some of the flags for investigation. Officers are also talking to local residents, to find out if they saw anything. The police have no idea who is behind the action, NOS reports.

https://t.co/ZX0fTGfKah Tegenstanders Windpark N33 plaatsen Duitse vlaggen langs #N33 en op landbouwgrond in #Meeden. Lees en bekijk meer op de dagelijkse (!) internetkrant https://t.co/fNCaMcnyOc #Muntendam #Noordbroek #Zuidbroek #Veendam #Hoogezand @Middengroningen pic.twitter.com/Ab16sQPWib

— Menterwolde.info (@robeisio) April 20, 2018

Energiebedrijf Innogy noemt de protestactie tegen windmolens 'buiten proportie'https://t.co/L4r9FuTvWb

— RTV Noord (@rtvnoord) April 20, 2018