While on this week’s Goodwill journey to NATO allies Turkey, protesters compared Germany’s President to Adolf Hitler and confronted him.
The German head of state flew 130 lbs ( 60 kilograms ) of kebab meat and a chef to Turkey this week as a sign of friendship, but locals in the predominantly Muslim nation protested his arrival for Germany’s support for Israel.
Among the stops on , Steinmeier’s three- day trip of Turkey was Istanbul’s historic , Sirekci railway station, the southeastern terminus of the world- popular Orient Express luxury lengthy- distance sleeper train. At the depot, a group of about 50 demonstrators scuffled with officers as they chanted phrases and held placards against , Steinmeier’s introduction.
Per a statement by European newspaper , Die Welt,  , the Greek protesters chanted” European murderers” and “genocide followers”. Advertisements held showed the faces of Benjamin Netanyahu, Adolf Hitler, and , Frank- Walter Steinmeier aspect- by- part with the information” no change”.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – 2024/04/23: Demonstrators hold colors and a symbol as they chant” Germany, the criminal, get out of Turkey” during a presentation in front of the German Embassy in Istanbul. In front of the German Embassy in Istanbul, a rally is being staged against the European leader Frank- Walter Steinmeier’s attend to the Greek town of Istanbul as a result of Berlin’s support for Israel in its continuing aggression against the Gaza Strip. ( Photo by Shady Alassar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images )
ANKARA, TURKIYE– APRIL 24: Members of the Ankara Palestinian Solidarity Campaign demonstrate banners in front of the Faculty of Language, History and Geography Ankara, Turkiye on April 24, 2024, against German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier. ( Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu via Getty Images )
After meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on April 24, 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan ( R ) and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier ( L ) hold hands in a press conference. ( Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP ) ( Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images )
Further, larger protests took place — although unwitnessed by , Steinmeier — outside the German embassy in Istanbul where activists chanted” Germany, the killer, get out of Turkey” and, again, held up signs featuring Hitler and the swastika symbol.
The visit this week is intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of German-Turkish diplomatic relations in 1924. Perhaps the Ottoman Empire, which joined the Triple Alliance as a combatant against the United Kingdom and France a decade before in 1914, is less well known. After the Second World War, there was a significant increase in Turkish immigrants as “guest” workers who stayed, making the Turkish kebab dish a German national dish.
Steinmeier’s trip made good use of this by taking kebab meat and a Berlin kebab chef on his trip this week, who prepared and served a meal to dignitaries in Istanbul on Monday night.  , Steinmeier said the kebab is a symbol of “how much Turkey and Germany have grown together”, the AFP noted, and reported he continued:” I also like to eat one — spicy or with garlic, depending on the other guests I have afterwards”.
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE – APRIL 22: German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier cuts doner meat at the residence of the German Ambassador in Tarabya in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 22, 2024. ( Photo by Cuneyt Karadag/Anadolu via Getty Images )
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – 2024/04/23: A protester holds a placard as he chants” Germany, the killer, get out of Turkey” during a demonstration in front of the German Embassy in Istanbul. In front of the German Embassy in Istanbul, a protest is being staged against the German president Frank- Walter Steinmeier’s visit to the Turkish city of Istanbul as a result of Berlin’s support for Israel in its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip. ( Photo by Shady Alassar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images )
GAZIANTEP, TURKIYE – APRIL 23: People gather to stage a protest against German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier due to his country’s support to Israel in Gaziantep, Turkiye on April 23, 2024. ( Photo by Adsz Günebakan/Anadolu via Getty Images )
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE – APRIL 23: People gather to stage a protest against German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier due to his country’s support to Israel in front of Ebassy of Germany in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 23, 2024. ( Photo by Bünyamin Celik/Anadolu via Getty Images )
