Gabriele Lesser (born May 16, 1960) is a historian and journalist, who specializes in the history of World War II. May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the globe...

As Warsaw correspondent of daily die tageszeitung (Berlin), she wrote commentary criticizing an initiative of German Federation of Expellees (BdV) to build a monumental Centre Against Expulsions, devoted to German victims of WWII. That initiative, advanced by BdV president Erika Steinbach, caused fierce controversy among the Central European public. Lesser also accused Steinbach of having destructive influence on Polish-German relations. Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... The Bund der Vertriebenen (BdV) (German for Federation of Expellees) is a non-profit organization formed to represent the interests of Germans displaced from their homes in Historical Eastern Germany and other parts of Eastern Europe by the expulsion of Germans after World War II. (Heimatvertriebene: Homeland expellees). It represents... The Centre Against Expulsions (ger. ... German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... Erika Steinbach, Member of Parliament Erika Steinbach (born July 25, 1943 as Erika Hermann) is a German conservative politician. ... Historical lands and provinces in Central Europe Central Europe is the central region of Europe. ...

Recently, Erika Steinbach, in the name of BdV, sued Gabriele Lesser for alleged defamations. Because other German journalists have expressed similar views in other articles, this raised a concern that Erika Steinbach is trying to set up an example case, winning the Centre Against Expulsions controversy by silencing her opponents. Some believe that under pressure from Steinbach, the newspaper decided to constrain critics of the Federation of Expellees and its leadership. Such an outcome is seen by some as a threat to freedom of opinion in Germany. Erika Steinbach, Member of Parliament Erika Steinbach (born July 25, 1943 as Erika Hermann) is a German conservative politician. ... The Centre Against Expulsions (ger. ... The Bund der Vertriebenen (BdV) (German for Federation of Expellees) is a non-profit organization formed to represent the interests of Germans displaced from their homes in Historical Eastern Germany and other parts of Eastern Europe by the expulsion of Germans after World War II. (Heimatvertriebene: Homeland expellees). It represents...

Particularities of the litigation include expressions Lesser used, whether the Centre will be a counterweight to Holocaust Memorial, and how BdV responded to the message of Polish bishops of November 1965 calling for reconciliation. 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ...