Wearing Nazi symbols in Afghanistan

Czech soldiers face probe after wearing Nazi symbols in Afghanistan - Yahoo! India News

Prague, Nov 9 (IANS) A scandal hit the Czech Army Monday after its two commanders were found wearing Nazi symbols on their helmets during their mission in Afghanistan, media reports said.

Lieutenant Jan Cermak wore the SS Dirlewanger brigade symbol and sergeant Hynek Matonoha wore the symbol of the 9th SS panzer division Hohenstaufen.

The SS units were the cruellest of German dictator Adolf Hitler's armed forces, which actively exterminated civil populations of occupied countries during the Second World War.

Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak said: 'Such a case cannot be tolerated.'

The government has decided to sack the officers, the MF Dnes newspaper reported.

 

This poses the question of why a commissioned and a noncommissioned military officer of a democratic Central European state, which before and during the Second World War was under German occupation and suffered for it, would choose to wear Nazi symbols on their helmets. Why does Nazi symbolism hold such appeal even among those who forbears suffered under Nazism? That is strange.

 

Are they sure this time? I remember a few years ago a similar case happened with the German army in Afganistan. "German Army Boasts Nazi Symbols" were what the headlines were like, in the end it turned out it was simply the logo of Afrika Korps but instead of the Swastika at the base they used an Iron Cross instead...

This case seems a bit more credible in that the reporters actually tell you what unit it's from, an S.S. unit leaves little leeway room. I take it it was this symbol?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/9divss.gif

At the same time some of the Commanders of said division were on record for opposing the party and calling crimes to task. It's an interesting situation, I don't know what to think. I doubt much of the history of the unit and the people who comprised it would be worth anything in this investigation though.

 

It's the sheer malice conjured by the symbol that is powerful. The spirit of ruthlessness and unbound agression has its appeals on the battlefield. In the end of the film Platoon the armored cavalry troops came to the rescue flying Swazikas on their APCs and that was supposed to be based on a real unit that Stone saw in Nam... War does bring out the worst in human beings as well as the best.

 

Goebels would be proud.

 

I've heard of a number of units from different nations flying various nazi pendants while out on ops, but stowing them before returning to base. I think it's some form of running in-joke.

 

I doubt a lot of people outside of Europe or even parts of North America would be aware of those symbols. In the Middle East a Swastika might conjure up thoughts of Buddhism, Hinduism, etc from the locales who see it, while a majority of the people elsewhere would think of the Nazi party first.

In the end it really falls on the people who hoist such symbols, I highly doubt they came across some images on Flickr and decided they were cool enough to represent when it came to picking things out.

WotNoChad?: I've heard of similar cases in the past, not just with the German, Czech, etc forces but some cases with the US, Canadian, etc armies as well. Not sure about the running joke thing, news articles always report on such incidents but they never report why such incidents occurred in the first place!

 

From the stories I've heard it always was an in-joke, not sure anyone nabbed for doing it would admit it nor point out how many others do similar. The journalists aren't there, so they don't actually know it's happening until it's posted up as a disciplinary, let alone why.

 

I am sure he is rolling in his grave with a big grin on his face and giving the nazi salute lol.

 

When I was Active duty our Battalion Scout Sniper Platoon had T-shirts made up with lightning bolts (ala SS) to wear for PT. After that there was a Regimental order forbidding the wear of anything but green skivvy shirts for PT.

 

I think this hits the nail on the head exactly. Fighting men will be attracted to symbols that reflect ferosity and professional efficiency. It's a questionable but understandable judgement.

 

Personally, I don't see a damned thing wrong with an "H" with a Sword thrust through it-even if they might mistake it for a WWII Waffen SS symbol. I've seen that insignia used on something military from another Country-that wa part of the Blucher Collection which was donated to the CC Museum of Science and History. I don't know if its just me? but, an "H" with a Sword thrust through it does not look anything like the evil mobile or static Swaz. Now where I would have a problem with that symbol being used is if they intentionally connect that symbol with SS Hohenstauffen, AND YES, I know that that was the Div insignia to Hohenstauffen. Im only pointing out that it was not a symbol that was ONLY used by the Germans. The collectable from the Blucher Collection was British.

The Dirlwanger Bde collartab insignia is going a bit too far. Everyone knows what kind of miserable prick he was.

Heck, I know a school teacher who has several decals he had made up that were of denazified WWII German Combat Qualification Badges-such as the Fallschirmabziechen, the PAB, IAB and the Pilots Badge. Those who might have recognized where those 1957 versions of those badges originated from, thought it was cool for a teacher to have these on his trucks windows. And no, this guy does not love the nazies or agree with their sick policies and such. He merely was a badge collector who had decals of German badges made-minus the swaz-and then had them placed on his trucks wondows.

The farthest I ever went was to have stickers of Vietnam era Green Beret flashes and such on my cars bumper and my favorite Greenie Beanie sticker showed a skull wearing a Green beret with the flash of the first group and had soem slogan underneath which I have now forgotten what it had said but, I got only positive comments on my choice of car decorations.

 

i agree c evans, i think its hardly likely that these men realised they were wearing nazi icons. and we get up these maen for wearing this H with a sword through it? what about prince harry at that party? wearing a nazi armband and uniform. that was sickening. the british people suffered for the royaal family and that a**hole wears a nazi armband. i dont care if he says sorry either...doesnt cut it for me.
Google Image Result for http://warshop.cz/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/02/prince_harry_nazi.jpg

 

Thanks Mate ;-))

Also, I don't know if many here realize but, apparently some German influence was used in the designs of a few signs that were used as unit insignia-for a few Merc units who were serving or stationed in Rhodesia. I do not remember the name of the book nor who the Author was but, they showed several photos taken at Merc camps where some very noticable German influenced insignia was used at. The one that greatly sticks out in my memore is two photos taken at two diff camps where the units insignia was of a WWII German Para Badge.

 

I think the problem is that these Czechs wore well known Nazi emblems, and they knew it.

Lieutenant Jan Cermak wore the SS Dirlewanger brigade symbol and sergeant Hynek Matonoha wore the symbol of the 9th SS panzer division Hohenstaufen.

 

I second this idea. They want "the spirit of the Wermacht" to help them.

I've often thought (in reference to Afghanistan) that what we need there is the Wermacht of 1942 (with updated weaponry, of course).

I can't help but think that that legendary German discipline and efficiency would pacify that country in no time.

 

How , take hostages, kill civilians, deport oponents and send their enemies to gaz chambers ????

 

Bah...
I say strip them of all ranks and throw them out of the military, zero tolerance against all Nazi lovers.

Disgusting.

 

Perhaps I was not being clear: I was referencing this post with my comments.

I do not support their use of the symbols displayed, but I can understand why they might do it.

Note also that I refer to the Wermacht. You cannot deny the discipline and efficiency of that fighting force. The very men who opposed them in battle will tell you this.

 

Well the Wehrmacht participated in enough war crimes that no army of a free democracy should take them as role model.
And the legendary German discipline and efficiency is mostly a cliche. The other armies were of similar professionalism.