German town postpones tribute to Nazi-era engineers

A German town has postponed plans to honor German aviation engineers Willy Messerschmitt and Claude Dornier -- known for their aircraft production in the Nazi era -- after protests by Jewish groups and local leaders.

The southern city of Garching, a Munich suburb, planned to honor the two late engineers along with 24 scientists with plaques in a new underground station near Munich's Technical University.

But the Jewish community protested against the proposal, saying the firms of Messerschmitt and Dornier served the Nazi regime by developing planes for the Luftwaffe in World War Two and exploited thousands of forced laborers in their plants.

The Green party also opposed the tribute to the engineers. Dornier died in 1969; Messerschmitt in 1978.

Garching's deputy mayor Hannelore Gabor said the town council would now review the plans in two weeks. She said a historian would provide details about the men's wartime role.

"We will take another look at the matter," she told Reuters.

Historians say both aircraft engineers had close ties to the Nazi regime. The Luftwaffe used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the "Battle of Britain" while later models were used at the Eastern front against the Soviet Union.

Among others to be honored for their achievements at the underground station, which will open in October, are Albert Einstein and Max Planck.