Anger erupted on the streets of Athens as German chancellor Angela Merkel made her first visit to Greece since the euro zone crisis began almost three years ago. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Athens to demonstrate against austerity measures as Ms Merkel – seen by many as the arch-villain of the euro crisis – spent six hours in the capital in talks with Greek counterpart Antonio Samaras.
About 7,000 police were called in to control the protesters, some of whom were carrying Nazi flags and placards denouncing the “Fourth Reich”.
Four people dressed in World War II-era German military uniforms and riding on a small jeep waved black-white-and-red swastika flags and raised their hands in the Hitler salute.
Protesters also threw rocks and kicked out at police.
Among the crowd was public servant Marina Koutsouris, who said Ms Merkel was not welcome.
“She’s identified with everything that’s happening in Europe, especially the southern section of Europe, and all the poverty and the recession there follows her,” she said.
“And of course you know it’s called a direct intervention into another country.”
One placard seen in the crowd displayed a swastika, while another read: “Fourth Reich get out”.
Ms Koutsouris admitted it was not a savoury reference, but said she understood why people were making it.
“Personally I’m not against Merkel per se. I’m against my government,” she said.
“But yes, emotionally we do get to a thing, this is the Fourth Reich, this is Germany taking over Europe by other means.”
The German leader’s visit coincided with a call from Europe’s finance ministers for Greece to implement financial reforms within 10 days if it wants to see the next $40 billion in bailout funds.
While many would have seen this trip as a meeting between the school-master and the recalcitrant pupil, the leaders spoke of their partnership in a press conference following their meeting.
Nikolas Blome, deputy editor of German newspaper Bild, was in Greece to gauge reaction to Ms Merkel’s visit.
He said while the Greeks might be angry, Germans are getting impatient.
“People are very sceptical whether Greece will get its act together, whether Greece will be able to come up with reforms and the economy flows,” he said.
“And so they’re fearing that by the end of the day the money is gone that has been lent to Greece.
“And so people are sceptical and they get somehow fed up with the Greek government, which is trying now for more than three years to come up with reforms and doesn’t deliver.”
Ms Merkel’s visit lasted just six hours but the repercussions in Greece are still to come.