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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nazi memorabilia

128 replies

Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 20:48

Went to local car boot this weekend, man had a stall bedecked with a huge Nazi swastika/SS flag, selling mainly Nazi memorabilia. As a 3rd generation Jewish immigrant family, most of whom perished in the war, I was shocked and saddened by this. Someone wrote words to this effect on a local gossip site and over 60 people have replied - the majority basically calling the OP a dickhead, that the war is over, people fought for freedom of expression so get over it. Was really surprised by this response. I can understand that I might be more sensitive than most on this topic but can't believe that most people think selling this stuff is ok...if there was an ISIS flag for sale the same people would be going beserk! So AIBU?

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 15/06/2015 20:51

I don't quite know how I feel on this one.

Somehow I think the person should have the right to sell it, but I'm not sure a car boot sale is the correct place to do it, it should be a specialist website or place if they wan't to change owners, but I'm not sure how that is actually different or why I think that.

Interested to see other replies.

SolidGoldBrass · 15/06/2015 20:58

It does seem a little, well, unsubtle. If it was a case of a few items among a display of varied military memorabilia then I would have to say fair enough really: memorabilia and curiousities are of interest to collectors. But a One Stop Nazi Shop at a car boot sale? WTF was he thinking? There are people I have been acquainted with in the past who would have punched him in the face, trashed his stock and put his car windows in for 'being a fascist' (which, I hasten to add, I do not support at all).

Do you live in an area that's mostly racist older white people, OP? or Woolwich by any chance?

SaucyJack · 15/06/2015 21:01

Hmmm. YABU I reckon if you're singling out Nazi memorabilia. Hideous, disgusting things have happened to millions of people in all parts of the world throughout history.

It's either OK to make money from selling historical artefacts, or it isn't.

Having said that, I wouldn't bloody buy any of it.

Original poster
Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 21:03

Mainly racist white people, young and all - pretty remote countryside area. Feeling quite depressed by it all really, however the combined IQ of the 68 responders seems to be less than triple figures judging by the wording of the responses which does give me some hope...

OP posts:
Original poster
Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 21:05

I would be offended by any material that preached hatred Saucy.

OP posts:
WannabeLaraCroft · 15/06/2015 21:07

I think it's awful. Insensitive arsehole. Shocks me that people can be like that, especially the people who were commenting on the post. Some people are just clueless Sad

MitzyLeFrouf · 15/06/2015 21:11

YANBU

I'd be really shocked to see a Nazi stall at a carboot sale. I'd assume anyone buying a Nazi flag would have less than savoury political views. I'd think the exact same of the vendor especially if he had lots of memorabilia.

SaucyJack · 15/06/2015 21:11

Well that's the thing Mary.

Find me a religious or historical symbol that hasn't been associated with hatred or oppression or the brutal slaughter of millions.

Buddha, I suppose.

Clawdy · 15/06/2015 21:15

YANBU. I would have been disgusted and offended.

Original poster
Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 21:16

It's good to know me and the OP weren't the only ones who feel this way. Sometimes living down here does make you feel a bit like you might slowly be losing your mind.

OP posts:
Aermingers · 15/06/2015 21:16

I saw the title of this thread and I assumed that it was somebody who had private Nazi memorabilia. I am a history student and to be honest I understand the fascination. I really question how people could have behaved like that, and I find it fascinating to see primary sources which give you an insight into the psychology behind it. (I have some Jewish ancestry too, on my mother's side).

But then I read your post and saw that the man had been selling it in the way he had, and no, I do agree with you.

MsPerfect · 15/06/2015 21:20

Don't know if anyone's watched it but on that show called Four Rooms where people come and try to sell various items to dealers they had a chap come on who was selling and adult and a child's KKK outfits Shock

He was above board and legit and ran a museum dedicated to preserving the memories of hate crime and war and just had found himself with too much stuff for the museum.

One of the dealers (buyers?) basically offered to pay him to destroy them. Understandable really.

I'm sure I also saw one with Nazi memorabilia and the dealer bought solely with the intention of donating to a museum.

I think that is the right attitude. The memorabilia should be preserved because we should never, ever forget and it serves a visual, horrific reminder. It should not be sold for profit or for future use.

The bloke at your car boot sounds like an idiot, what fool sells nazi memorabilia at a car boot? And the idiots on the internet are also idiots. In general I find thick people are far more eager to share their ignorant views online than intelligent people. They also believe they're right, because they're thick Wink

FyreFly · 15/06/2015 21:21

I recognise the value these sort of things hold as historical artefacts, but if someone specialises in Nazi memorabilia, and ONLY Nazi memorabilia, it would certainly make me uncomfortable. If in the context of WW2, or war memorabilia in general, it certainly has its place.

TheAssassinsGuild · 15/06/2015 21:21

I find that kind of stuff deeply upsetting too. Although I am surprised that this was at a car boot sale - these items command high prices. Unless it was all replica, in which case I find it even more upsetting.

My father is into WW2 stuff - mainly Home Defence - and he goes to quite a lot of militaria fairs. He says that the amount of Nazi stuff on the market has just rocketed in recent years. Where it was once fairly rare, it now has a large presence in fairs. I've asked him why he thinks it has proliferated so dramatically. It is particularly notable as the other items, particularly Home Defence items, have become more scarce. He doesn't know, although he does question the authenticity of a lot of it. He says that he once saw what purported to be a piece from a concentration camp uniform. He says he had to leave before he decked the guy selling it.

StarsInTheNightSky · 15/06/2015 21:22

I do agree with Saucy to a degree, the things people have done in the name of Christianity (the crusades for example) or any religion have been truly horrific, but its still OK to sell Christian, even Crusades artefacts. History has its very dark patches.
I hate it though, as pp said, not really appropriate at a car boot.

Original poster
Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 21:24

MsPerfect - you put it beautifully:
And the idiots on the internet are also idiots. In general I find thick people are far more eager to share their ignorant views online than intelligent people. They also believe they're right, because they're thick

Can I send you the link to the forum so you can repost it Smile.

OP posts:
Original poster
Marymaymay · 15/06/2015 21:26

My favourite post was
'so what did he say when you TOLD HIM TO HIS FACE. Or was you too scared he would send you to Belsen'

OP posts:
Tulipblank · 15/06/2015 21:28

My grandad has some Nazi "memorabilia". A flag he took off a battlefield when he was 18, a few medals, some other bits and pieces. I first saw the flag when I was about 14 (he doesn't get it out often for obvious reasons) and I remember feeling sick at the sight of it. It's such a deep, blood red, and so angry looking.

It's not something that the family would ever sell. I'm not sure what will happen to it in the next few years (my grandad is in his 90s) but I do think it's an important part of history.

Seeing stuff like that at a car boot is absolutely not appropriate. It's not like other historical war related artefacts. This happened to people's families who are still alive. It's too raw to be rifled over at a car boot.

serin · 15/06/2015 21:38

Horrible.

I have never seen Nazi stuff for sale, although we did once view a house and there was a huge swastika painted on one of the bedroom walls.

We got the hell out of there.

bikeandrun · 15/06/2015 21:39

Although I am generally very interested in all periods of history ( including 20th century history, of which obviously the rise of totalitarian regimes is a central part of) I find the obsession with the Nazis very unwholesome. The way the history channel constantly advertises features about Hitler seems to heading towards glorification rather than learning lessons from the past.

Seriouslyffs · 15/06/2015 21:42

It's strange, isn't it. I think it's because the Nazis were so recent and unspeakable and systematic.
FIL has several biographies of Hitler in the smart living room. Just seeing the word makes me feel really uncomfortable.

MsPerfect · 15/06/2015 21:42

Marymaymay you can steal it from me if you want Smile

I just had a bit of a google, because the whole "thick people think they're right because they're thick" is actually a studied psychological effect and I read a wiki page (legit source!) about it a while ago. Can't remember what it's called for the life of me.

Tbh, it's not worth the effort though. They're unlikely to admit they're wrong.

TwinkieTwinkle · 15/06/2015 21:43

It makes me uncomfortable. I know it is 'history' now but there are people who survived the war still alive. Hell, it only finished about 10 years before my father was born. The idea of selling Nazi memorabilia just doesn't sit right with me.

LobsterQuadrille · 15/06/2015 21:43

I agree with Tulip. My father (90) was a 19 year old musician in the German army when he was captured - definitely not a Nazi supporter and has been happy and grateful to be naturalised British and to have stayed in the UK ever since. He has an Iron Cross which I have only seen once - not precisely because of shame, but he certainly wouldn't go around telling people and most definitely wouldn't sell it or any other bits of wartime memorabilia at a boot fair - completely inappropriate and insensitive.

Petridish · 15/06/2015 21:46

Sadly, there is a market for Nazi memorabilia.

I don't think a car boot sale is an appropriate place...

Personally, having visited one of dreadful Nazi death camps, I would be shocked.

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