In November 1952, Ramcke told a group of former SS-men attending a HIAG meeting they should be proud of being blacklisted, while stating that in the future their blacklist would instead be seen as a "list of honor".[21][22] Ramcke's remarks caused a furor in Germany; even the former SS General Felix Steiner distanced himself from them.[23] Konrad Adenauer was so furious with Ramcke's remarks that he directed Thomas Dehler, the German federal Minister of Justice, to investigate the possibility of prosecuting Ramcke.