Well, I think Odile meant that it could be an explanation of certain sentiments missing, at least that's how understood her, not that it really is a problem of this place having the luxury of avoiding direct war fronts.

It's not the swastikas that are bugging some folks, though, but what the swastikas are on it. If you have a book on Indian symbolism, I am sure swastikas look fine there. If you see a swastika on a nazi uniform button or a knife, it's something else.

the nazi one is different from the normal swastika used by japanese and others. mostly by the 45 degree shift, which makes it a very particular (if not unique) symbol and therefore easy to separate from others.

edit: i remember, hitler's standard isn't but that's just 1 in like 7 variations

I remember a time when I lived in Munich in the 1980's, and shortly after visiting Dachau, and being Jewish, I was a little sensitive about the war...Which led me to be instantly on the defensive when an elderly German gentleman I was chatting to in a beer hall pulled a picture of Hitler out of his wallet. However, he started laughing and folded the picture up of Hilters face to make the image of a Pig's ar$e, quite clever really.

That's the type of WW2 war souvenirs that should be sold....

I'm a militaria collector myself - but a very specific niche (not nazi by the way). Some if not most of what I collect also has great historical significance. Same is also true of some of the Nazi stuff although I admit that this collecting niche does also attract some weirdos (going to militaria fairs in germany, people watching is 80% of the fun). Question is of course why nazi stuff freaks you out, while communism wasn't the most friendly system either?

By the way, check out some of the older (beautifully designed) catalogues of this auctioneer/dealer: www.andreas-thies.de

You may see some nazi era things where it's difficult to not agree that it has historical signficance - even if just for rarity sake - and sometimes also artistic merit.

If you are interested in communist era stuff, here's an online dealer which may have something interesting: www.collectrussia.com Some of the prices may shock you.


Some of the most extensive nazi militaria collections are actually in the hands of... Russians. Surprised me as well, but collecting interests aren't always logically explainable.

I think people are reacting a little strongly here. They are just some trinkets and memorabilia of an age which has long since disappeared.

Think of it from this perspective - the OP mentions that the shop was also selling old Roman coins. Those Romans were invaders and occupiers who practiced slavery and genocide. But we do not go around destroying old Roman things because they are symbols of a brutal regime. Of course, the Nazis are much fresher in everyone's minds, but I think that we should consider old items with swastikas on them the same as we do old Roman items. After all - they are both empires which have irreversibly been destroyed. In fact, to say that you think that these symbols and their sale should be banned, suggests that you have some fear of them. Why not treat them as they should be treated - like the remnants of any other fallen empire.

I am in possession of a copy of Mein Kampf, which was brought back by my grandfather in 1945 (after his four years as a "guest" of the Nazis). When he gave it to me, he said that he hoped that having a tangible reminder would make the war a little more real and sombre for my children and grandchildren. I know other soldiers did the same thing - I know one brought back a flag, another a knife.

And as already mentioned, Soviet memorabilia are actually easier to come by, and communists weren't any nicer than the fascists!

I hope I have made my point clear. I know that some will disagree with me, but I think it's important we don't hold any fear of such symbols.

to me there is no comparison between those 2 totalitarian states and their agenda on "cleansing" (extend this to the romans too).

Now, from the OP i take it that the seller knew that as well since the symbols were covered.

By no means do I want to defend horrible Nazi crimes... but I would suggest you read up a bit on what happened under communism before you make such statements. Just one datapoint, of many, which may be a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

Oh no , I am still busy trying to get rid of mine




This is actually no suprise to me at all. Stalin had a pack with Hitler, they were buddies till 1941, and after as well, unofficially. Many nazies died on the Soviet teritorry, in fact I think most nazies that died in WWII died there.

The thing is, I would have been reprogrammed into a blond blue eyed nazi child fitting the parameters while shiped to a different set of parents, nazi ones, as it happened to thousands of kids in my area in 40s, if I wouldn't be killed as a Jew. A direct exctinction.

During Soviet times, things were hard enough, but as long as we sang the proletariat songs, cried on command when batyushka Stalin died, learned how to shoot heavy machines, were poor as one can be, living in undignified conditions, cheered for our leaders and kept our heads down, silently, we survived.

So, hladomor I wouldn't question and honestly, even commie memorabilia was illegal at some point in my homeland, probably still is. But those regimes are not comparable to the people who lived them. Should both symbols be handled with caution out of respect to those who didn't survive the regimes, yes.

The facts are very comparable. Being the wrong kind of person could get you imprisoned or slaughtered under either regime. And the casualty count isn't that far off either, swinging either way depending on whose count is most accurate.

Polish Wiki on Swastikas used by the Slavs

That most Swiss of the war generation were not exposed to full war cannot explain anything as Nazi memorabilia is available in areas of Europe which WERE exposed to full war. A prohibition would not help much. There is a prohibition in Germany, but it is easy to purchase such stuff from the USA (Germans doing business overthere with this).

The "Napoleonic wars" ended in 1814/15. In 1870/71 was the German-French War, with Napoleon III the leader on the French side, but not least thanks to the shrewd deception strategies of General Herzog, war never got into any Swiss territories. I however strongly suggest that what you write about your house had not to do with 1871 but with 1814, as Neuchâtel only joined Switzerland in 1815 and between 1799 and 1814 had been occucpied by France, just as the rest of Switzerland