Overview
- Industry group Spio stripped 14 past recipients of its Ehrenmedaille after researchers classified them as NS-burdened or NS-conform, calling the move a correction of earlier errors and a signal against rising right-wing extremism.
- Those losing the honor include Leni Riefenstahl, Heinz Rühmann, former Berlinale head Alfred Bauer, Olga Tschechowa, August Arnold, and Ludwig Waldleitner.
- Spio will discontinue the existing medal and develop a replacement prize that counts societal engagement for democracy and the rule of law as a core criterion.
- One exception was made for Hilmar Hoffmann, with researchers crediting his lifetime work after 1945 to critically confront the Nazi past.
- Die Zeit reports the study found 31 of 91 examined figures had varying NS involvement, and the state film fund FFA has launched its own review of former boards and committee members.