NATO soldiers in Afghanistan suspended over SS Symbols

[Cybach]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8351996.stm

Three Czech soldiers who served as part of the Nato force in Afghanistan have been suspended for wearing Nazi symbols, Czech defence officials say.

Two are said to have adorned their helmets with symbols of SS divisions while serving in eastern Afghanistan. Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak said their behaviour was "unacceptable" and suspended them immediately. The soldiers' commanding officer was also suspended pending further investigation, defence officials said. "There is no place in the army for people who think this way," said Mr Bartak after the episode was revealed by a daily newspaper. Attempted cover-up?

Lieutenant Jan Cermak, a rapid reaction force commander in Logar province, adorned his helmet with the insignia of the SS Dirlewanger brigade, it was reported on Monday. Meanwhile, Sergeant Hynek Matonoha drew the letter "H" crossed by a sword - signifying the SS Hohenstaufen panzer division - on the side of his helmet, the Mlada Fronta Dnes daily newspaper reported.

The emblems were reported to Colonel Petr Prochazka, the soldiers' commander, who tried to cover up the episode to protect his men, the newspaper reported a fellow soldier as saying. Mr Bartak ordered an "immediate and thorough investigation of the case" adding that if the allegations of an attempted cover-up were true, the men would be "severely punished". Mr Bartak is said to have recently decorated the two soldiers on their return from service in Afghanistan.

Some 330 Czech soldiers work in the Logar provincial reconstruction team as part of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Czech defence ministry says.

So 3 Czech soldiers got into trouble for adorning their helmets with graphic SS symbolism. Do you think they are right in being suspended? Or does this go against their rights to free expression? Do you think a suspension is taking the matter out of proportion?

Should it matter what soldiers draw on their helmets, or what types of tattoos they might wish to wear?

Anyone else find it ironic that it was Czech soldiers, of all nationalities? The so-called "first victims" of Nazism.



PS: For some more information for those interested;



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36th_Waffe ... _of_the_SS


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_SS_Pan ... henstaufen

[Yootopia]

Oh smooth.

[Linker Niederrhein]

The best thing the czechs have done since Jan Hus.

[H N Fiddlebottoms VIII]

I can see why one might do it. A lot of Nazi symbols look pretty cool, plus there is the intimidation aspect of symbols connected to the Nazis.
On the other hand, those symbols can't be used without their political aspects coming up (ironically, the generic and rather common death's head-type insignia was also popular with the Nazis, but has no political connections in the common mind), and the trappings of Nazism have no place in a modern army. It isn't something you want yourself or your country attached to, especially in connection with places that are already politically touchy, like Afghanistan.

[Ifreann]

Classy move, guys.

[Woolio]

So 3 Czech soldiers got into trouble for adorning their helmets with graphic SS symbolism. Do you think they are right in being suspended? Or does this go against their rights to free expression? Do you think a suspension is taking the matter out of proportion?

Should it matter what soldiers draw on their helmets, or what types of tattoos they might wish to wear?

Anyone else find it ironic that it was Czech soldiers, of all nationalities? The so-called "first victims" of Nazism.

It should definitely matter what tattoos, etc soldiers have.

They've not confirmed anything other than an ongoing investigation to be fair.

If it's true though they should, of course, be kicked out of the armed forces.

[Linker Niederrhein]

Actually, I lie. They also did the little mole.

So, the second-best thing they've done since Jan Hus.

[Risottia]

Three Czech soldiers who served as part of the Nato force in Afghanistan have been suspended for wearing Nazi symbols, Czech defence officials say.

Czechs wearing Nazi symbols. Wow.
Why not also some signs reading "SUDETENLAND - THIS WAY", "BITTE INVADE US AGAIN", "WE SLAVS ARE UNTERMENSCHEN" or "HEYDRICH WAS JUST MISUNDERSTOOD"?

I blame Vaclav Klaus (aka the jerk from Prazsky Hrad).

[Linker Niederrhein]

Czechs wearing Nazi symbols. Wow.
Why not also some signs reading "SUDETENLAND - THIS WAY", "BITTE INVADE US AGAIN", "WE SLAVS ARE UNTERMENSCHEN" or "HEYDRICH WAS JUST MISUNDERSTOOD"?

I blame Vaclav Klaus (aka the jerk from Prazsky Hrad).

Hey, Israel, too, has had peeps with swastikas tatoo'd on the asses of DF soldiers. If they have them, why not the czechs?

That aside, in such cases, it's typically not the ideology that's revered, but the martial prowess. Whether it's a myth or not is irrelevant. What matters is the popular conception of MANLY MEN with BARE CHESTS holding off A MENACE for years by virtue of sheer TESTOSTERONE. And well-trained, bare chests with rippling muscles. The ideology behind the MANLY SOLDIERING is completely irrelevant. This, as you may be aware of, is behind the popularity of the Wehrmacht on teh internets (Well, that, and NAZI SUPERSCIENCE. Which is definitely a myth, but why would that stop anyone?). Not the gas chambers.

No, the SS weren't even soldiers. Their insignia still looked spiffy, though.

Nothing more to it.

Now, I'm pondering.



He's already SS-black. Just lacks the runes...

[Risottia]

Hey, Israel, too, has had peeps with swastikas tatoo'd on the asses of DF soldiers. If they have them, why not the czechs?

They should czech better their history.

What matters is the popular conception of MANLY MEN with BARE CHESTS holding off A MENACE for years by virtue of sheer TESTOSTERONE. And well-trained, bare chests with rippling muscles.

Now this thread is positively emitting gay radiations!

[Risottia]

Now, I'm pondering.



He's already SS-black. Just lacks the runes...

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

[Linker Niederrhein]

Now this thread is positively emitting gay radiations!

It has always been my opinion that national socialism and GAY] belong together. Hitler was wrong in that regard, and with Röhm. Eventually, I'll write an essay about why this is the case and post it on stormfront...

But anyway, nazism requires manly men and knowing winks.

[Linker Niederrhein]

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

They're red, though. Not black. Definitely bolsheviks, arch enemies of the ethnically pure moles!

[Risottia]

Now this thread is positively emitting gay radiations!

It has always been my opinion that national socialism and GAY] belong together. Hitler was wrong in that regard, and with Röhm. Eventually, I'll write an essay about why this is the case and post it on stormfront...

But anyway, nazism requires manly men and knowing winks.

MANLY MEN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lUjhEHlh7s

[Risottia]

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

They're red, though. Not black. Definitely bolsheviks, arch enemies of the ethnically pure moles!

Moles or Poles? That is the question.

[Sun Aut Ex]

I think it's all part of the fact that WWII and the Holocaust are starting to be forgotten. For example, a recent survey of British children showed that 12% thought that Hitler was the German national team manager.

[Linker Niederrhein]

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

They're red, though. Not black. Definitely bolsheviks, arch enemies of the ethnically pure moles!

Moles or Poles? That is the question.

Moles are supported by molhulhu, so it seems a pretty safe bet that moles > poles.

[Risottia]

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

They're red, though. Not black. Definitely bolsheviks, arch enemies of the ethnically pure moles!

Moles or Poles? That is the question.

Moles are supported by molhulhu, so it seems a pretty safe bet that moles > poles.

Wow! Is that real?

(edit: real, I checked. WEIRRRRDDD!!!)

[Hairless Kitten II]

I think it's all part of the fact that WWII and the Holocaust are starting to be forgotten. For example, a recent survey of British children showed that 12% thought that Hitler was the German national team manager.

Yes, incredible. While we all know that he's the Austrian national team manager!

[Hairless Kitten II]

I see your Krtek and raise you Rumcajs.


Isn't he MANLY?

They're red, though. Not black. Definitely bolsheviks, arch enemies of the ethnically pure moles!

Moles or Poles? That is the question.

Moles are supported by molhulhu, so it seems a pretty safe bet that moles > poles.

Wow! Is that real?

Yes, it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-nosed_Mole

[Cybach]

Czechs wearing Nazi symbols. Wow.
Why not also some signs reading "SUDETENLAND - THIS WAY", "BITTE INVADE US AGAIN", "WE SLAVS ARE UNTERMENSCHEN" or "HEYDRICH WAS JUST MISUNDERSTOOD"?

I blame Vaclav Klaus (aka the jerk from Prazsky Hrad).

Hey, Israel, too, has had peeps with swastikas tatoo'd on the asses of DF soldiers. If they have them, why not the czechs?

That aside, in such cases, it's typically not the ideology that's revered, but the martial prowess. Whether it's a myth or not is irrelevant. What matters is the popular conception of MANLY MEN with BARE CHESTS holding off A MENACE for years by virtue of sheer TESTOSTERONE. And well-trained, bare chests with rippling muscles. The ideology behind the MANLY SOLDIERING is completely irrelevant. This, as you may be aware of, is behind the popularity of the Wehrmacht on teh internets (Well, that, and NAZI SUPERSCIENCE. Which is definitely a myth, but why would that stop anyone?). Not the gas chambers.

No, the SS weren't even soldiers. Their insignia still looked spiffy, though.

Nothing more to it.

Now, I'm pondering.



He's already SS-black. Just lacks the runes...

I think that keys in to quite a bit of it, the testosterone and worship of the values of the SS. For better or worse the SS and Wehrmacht bring with it a kind of military romanticism. With quite a bit of society seeing them in a mythical status as the praetorian guard and army of the last expansionist European Reich/Empire.

Similarly the emphasis on loyalty and fanaticism in the SS, and the stubborn mulish resistance of the Wehrmacht tend to be given a grudging respect. The numerous last stands to the death against all odds and the so-called "unfathomable courage of the Landsers" are something that win much praise from people with a very masochistic and militaristic worldview. Considering both parties fought loyally and bravely to the very end, until the fall of Berlin.

[Sun Aut Ex]

Also, former communist states tend to have unhealthy numbers of Neo-Nazis. With the world getting smaller, the Nazi ideology has shifted, in the eyes of some, to pan-European ideology.

[Robarya]

My opinion is that they should be allowed to stay. Being close to a National Socialist ideologically, of course I'm biased. But then again, who isn't?

Three Czech soldiers who served as part of the Nato force in Afghanistan have been suspended for wearing Nazi symbols, Czech defence officials say.

Czechs wearing Nazi symbols. Wow.
Why not also some signs reading "SUDETENLAND - THIS WAY", "BITTE INVADE US AGAIN", "WE SLAVS ARE UNTERMENSCHEN" or "HEYDRICH WAS JUST MISUNDERSTOOD"?

I blame Vaclav Klaus (aka the jerk from Prazsky Hrad).

The Sudetenland was inhabited by many Germans, so it is possible that the soldiers in question are of German ethnicity (unless it is stated otherwise in the article; I only skimmed through it and read Cybach's post). Anyways, the Waffen-SS became multinational through the war, with people from all over Europe in its ranks, including ethnic Czechs.