Posted on 11/02/2006 11:26:30 AM PST by Mark Felton
A German magazine has published a photograph showing a Nazi-like symbol on a vehicle allegedly used by German troops bound for Afghanistan.
The defence ministry is investigating the photograph, published on Thursday in the weekly magazine Stern.
It follows the recent scandal of photographs of German soldiers posing with human skulls and skeletons.
Six servicemen were suspended over the first case, and a total of 23 are being investigated in connection with it.
At the end of last month, the German government announced a grand new role for the country's military.
It decided that more troops would be sent abroad on peacekeeping missions and Germany would expand its efforts to maintain international security.
New scandal
But the army has been embarrassed and shamed by a stream of photographs in German newspapers.
First were the images of German troops desecrating human remains, taken in Afghanistan.
Now a new photograph in Stern shows a vehicle with a palm tree and an iron cross painted onto it.
The symbol is reminiscent of that used by the Nazi commander General Erwin Rommel - the "Desert Fox" - in North Africa during World War II.
The defence ministry has promised another investigation.
The recent scandals have sparked a fierce debate in Germany about whether the army here is ready to take on a greater role abroad.
I need a bigger picture than that. Pewp
That's not a Nazi symbol.
That's an Afrikakorps symbol which would likely have been the insignia of any desert armored cavalry force the Wehrmacht would have had, regardless of who happened to be in control of the German state.
Ah yes, the evil Palm Tree, as I said before, a War/Iron Cross is not a swastika; I have a French "croix de guerre" which was passed out to American Soldiers after WWI looks exactly the same.
The Iron cross has been a German military symbol long before Nazism existed--IIRC, it goes back at least to the 19th century...
Don't confuse us with the facts.
The media doesn't understand male behavior, especially that of young masculine men in a combat zone.
Not sure Rommel could be classed as a nazi - they forced him to commit suicide, because I believe he associated with those responsible for the July 20 1944 plot to kill Hitler.
I think skull/bodyparts emblems are more to do with morale boosters regarding the troops battle prowess.
Sounds like Kremlin disinformation.
I think you're half right. If there was a dimocrat president they would not be trying everything possible to make him look bad.
I don't remember hearing anything like this during clinton's time.
I don't remember hearing anything about illegal war, invading a soveriegn nation, civilian casualties, not counsulting congress, etc. during the actually illegal war on Serbia.
These lefty scum are using the troops to try and gain political position back here.
It's disgusting, dangerous and UNPATRIOTIC.
I'm pretty sure Rommel can't be classified as a Nazi. You are correct, best as I know.
BBC reporting on a tabloid story? I guess they have grown tired of America/Bush/Iraq bashing for the moment.
I agree.
Actually, it's different [as described] than an Afrika Korps symbol [they varied from unit to unit], which had a SWASTIKA superimposed on the palm tree. Jeez, it's not like they used a TOTENKOPF. And knowing journalists, aside from a swastika, a Death's Head or SS siegrunen, they wouldn't know a Nazi military symbol [including SS Divisional insignia] if they saw them.
Not really.
This is a Back Door Bush Bash.
In the picture of the plane, I feel safe saying that looks more like an Iron Cross to me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.