Nazi students march

Up to 350 members of right-wing student groups gathered in central Vienna to mark the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Allies, as about 400 people took part in a counter-demonstration.

About 700 police officers kept the two groups apart and sealed off the central square where the right-wing students marched, sang a song, listened to a speech and laid a wreath to honour Nazi soldiers who died during the Second World War.

The Nazis surrendered on May 7, 1945, and the next day was declared Victory in Europe Day.

The chief of the Vienna branch of the Freedom party, Heinz-Christian Strache, defended the ceremony and the commemoration of people considered heroes by the organisers.