Posted on 11/02/2006 10:34:23 AM PST by lizol
New probe into German soldiers pictured driving 'Nazi' emblem army car
Last updated at 17:14pm on 1st November 2006
The German defence ministry has launched an inquiry into a report that soldiers used a car with a Nazi-era emblem, adding to fears over the conduct of its troops after a scandal over desecrating human skulls in Afghanistan.
In an article to be published by weekly magazine Stern shows a photo of an off-road vehicle used by German soldiers with a palm tree and iron cross on it.
The vehicle with the palm tree emblem was used by members of the German "Bundeswehr" army's elite KSK unit, Stern said.
During World War Two, Nazi Germany's famed "Afrika Korps" under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel used a similar emblem, albeit with a swastika instead of an iron cross, the traditional symbol of the German military.
"A couple of our young men are stuck in the past and thought it was cool to drive around with this Wehrmacht (Nazi army) emblem," a KSK soldier, who was not named, told Stern.
"I and others found it sickening," said the soldier.
Thomas Raabe, spokesman for the defence ministry, said the matter was under investigation.
Stern said the photo appeared to have been taken at a camp in Oman where German soldiers were preparing for deployment in Afghanistan, where some 2,800 German troops are helping to stabilise the war-torn country. It was unclear when the photo was taken.
Rommel, nicknamed the "Desert Fox", was a top Nazi military commander but was later accused of supporting an attempt to assassinate Hitler and was pressured to commit suicide. The public display of Nazi symbols is a crime in Germany and would not be tolerated among German soldiers stationed abroad.
Earlier, Raabe said the army had suspended four more soldiers for involvement in the desecration of human skulls in Afghanistan, taking the total number of suspensions to six.
The number of suspects being investigated had risen to 23 from 20, he told reporters. Of those, 16 are active soldiers.
A week ago, Germany's top-selling daily newspaper Bild printed pictures of German soldiers in Afghanistan posing with human remains, including skulls.
The paper said the pictures had been taken more than three years ago.
The pictures caused outrage in Germany with top politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, describing the troops' behaviour as inexcusable and vowing to punish those involved.
Further images followed, including one photograph purporting to show a German soldier carrying out a mock execution of a skeleton assembled from various human remains.
The emergence of more pictures raised fears that the problem was more than just an isolated incident.
So would it be safe to say that you're letting your emotions direct your logic in this case?
Just to clarify, I certainly can appreciate how you would not be enthusiastic about German insignia, be they Nazi swastikas or Iron Crosses.
Had my country been invaded, occupied and swallowed up by Hitler and his stooges, I would have an emotional reaction as well, and I have no doubt you feel the same way about the Soviet hammer and sickle?
Didn't want you to get the wrong idea from my post #41. ;)
So, in effect, it was a de-Nazified unit insignia.
The World War II era Iron Cross medal had a swastika on it.
After World War II, West German World War Two veterans had their Iron Cross medals "de-nazified" simply by being re-issued minus the swastika and they wore them that way on their uniforms.
The left-wing news media is looking for excuses to emasculate the war effort.
That is why I made post #42 after post #41.
I understand exactly what you are saying.
Best,
MKJ
A photo from a GDR-publication showing a Belgian mercenary of the "Kongo-Müller" troop
who "served" between 1964 and 1965 for money under Moise Tschombé in Kongo. Together with Mike Hoare ("Mad Mike") and 700 other west European mercenaries he knocked down the "Simba" rebellion with brute force back then. To decorate his jeep he also used skulls and bones. Although the former GDR (East Germany) used this story for propaganda causes this guy was really the essence of real scum. His most famous quotation was: "Negerjagd ist eine dolle Sache." (The hunt of negros is a wonderful thing). The reaction of west Germany was somehow awkward then. The East German documentary film over Müller "Der lachende Mann" is probably still indicated because of political causes (yes - still not everything is that free in Germany) and the German justice never opened (to my limited knowlege) a lawsuit against Müller, although he is doubtless a mass-murderer. Müller died of natural causes in 1983 in South Africa
This is the reason why informed Germans are that disturbed about those photos from Afghanistan. Personally I think it is was just a "practical joke" from a few idiots who were unable to understand the disastrous "public relation" they made for our army, the Bundeswehr. In difference to Kongo-Müller, who killed the poor people what "decorated" his jeep on his own, those boys simply collected this (probably Russian) skull from a sand grave that was blown over.
Personally I do not see any problem to use the symbol of the Africa Korps as long as they replace the swastika with the Balkenkreuz (Iron Crossing).
Everything else would be hypocritical and a break in traditions. I.e. the Bundeswehr honored Erwin Rommel when they named the barracks in Augustdorf, Osterrode and Dornstadt after him. Furthermore a (meanwhile decommissioned) destroyer of the Lütjens-class was named "Rommel".
Rommel is nobody we Germans have to be ashamed of.
His point is that Rommel did not commit war crimes or atrocities.
And yeah, something even remotely agressive woulddefinitely be useful to determine whether we are still MORTALE ENEMIES OF THE POLISH PEOPLE -.-
"I and others found it sickening,"
Yeah - exploiting someone else's trophies of war.
>>Swastika or Iron Cross are symbols of the worst barbarians in the history of humankind.
Sorry, they're only #3 on the leaderboard, if you are counting single-state actors.
The Democide leaderboard:
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM
It is senseless to discuss with this hate-loaded guy. Read this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728070/reply?c=26
wich is pretty much true.
yawn ... not you again....
He was, however, a magnificent bastard.
You are right!On top of that, Rommel was involved in a plot against Hitler and he paid that with his life( forced to commit suicide).
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