Council hopeful's Nazi books link

| Saturday, 8 May 2004 | Click here for original article

A British National Party candidate in the forthcoming Bradford Council elections has been exposed as the publisher of books glorifying Hitler and Nazi Germany.

The Telegraph & Argus can reveal that Dr James Lewthwaite, 52, the BNP candidate for Wyke ward in the June elections, used to run publishing company Shelf Books Ltd, specialising in Nazi literature from his home in Ascot Drive, Horton Bank Top.

The BNP website claims in large letters on its home page: "We are not racists, Nazis or thugs."

But Shelf Books says on its website that it concentrates on the battles of World War Two from the German perspective. The publisher's Stahlhelm series of books give detailed historical accounts of the Second World War. Titles include Nordic Warriors, Breaking the Chains and SS-Flak.

Nordic Warriors profiles the "dedicated fighters for Hitler's New European Order, whose last days were spent battling to defend the Fuhrer".

Iron Horsemen, an account of the latter stages of the Battle of Stalingrad priced at £12, offers a free Third Reich Panzer Music CD worth £12.99.

Estonian Vikings is described as "a brief tribute to the soldiers of Battalion Narwa".

Publicity blurb on Shelf Books' website says the accompanying photographs "give a good impression of the calibre of soldiers that manned SS-Panzergrenadier Battalion Narwa as they fought for the freedom of their Baltic homeland and for the cause of European civilisation."

Shelf Books also publishes fiction. Its Jackboot series of novels have such titles as Death in Normandy, Red Eagle and SS-Kampfgruppe Peiper.

Shelf Books uses a Coventry-based company with unashamedly Nazi sympathies as its main distributor. UFC, which lists only a post office box as its contact address, boasts on its website: "We have literally scoured the world to find you what we believe is the world's most comprehensive listing of books on National Socialism and Fascism". The company's trademark resembles a Nazi swastika.

UFC says its books are "free from the usually offensive propaganda smears of the established print houses." As well as distributing Shelf Books titles, it offers CDs described as "the world's most comprehensive collection of period recordings from National Socialist Germany and Fascist Italy."

Also on offer are full-sized polyester Nazi flags emblazoned with a swastika. "Suitable for flying, wall drapes and as a stunning backdrop to your collection," says its website.

Other products for sale include hand painted porcelain statues of Adolf Hitler giving a Nazi salute. "All of these items are made in England by masters of their craft," advises the website.

Dr Lewthwaite, who trained as an archaeologist at Caius College Cambridge, gained a first degree, a master's degree and a PhD at the prestige university. Between November 1983 and October 1984 he was a research assistant in the Department of Archaeological Sciences at Bradford University.

He is listed as the BNP's assistant organiser in Bradford and was previously selected as the far-right party's council candidate in the Wibsey ward.

He is employed as a security officer in Wakefield.

Dr Lewthwaite, a recent recruit to the BNP, featured in a newsletter titled Wyke Patriot which was also distributed in Low Moor and Oakenshaw.

When contacted by the T&A, Dr Lewthwaite said that Shelf Books was moribund and had not traded since 2001. "I have relinquished any interest in the company," he said.

Dr Lewthwaite denied that the books he had published were pro-Nazi. "It's a very important contribution to World War Two to get reportage from both sides," he said. "Up to now you had to read German to access the material. And you cannot make a connection between Nazi and Germany, especially if you were a conscript. You can't say because someone was a German soldier they were therefore a Nazi."

Asked about the website which was still active, he said: "It must be operated by someone else."

Dr Lewthwaite said his recent affiliation to the BNP was the first time he had supported any political party or done anything political.

The BNP's press officer Dr Phill Edwards said: "What has this got to do with his candidature? What possible relevance is there? People don't have to read these books but if people are interested they should be free to read them. In a free society people can read and say what they like. They can read anything and publish anything providing it's within the law."

Trade unionists in Bradford have mounted a campaign against the BNP in which thousands of leaflets have been distributed throughout the Bradford area. A spokesman for Bradford TUC said: "Residents in Wyke should be very concerned about James Lewthwaite and his views."