Am I overreacting or is that outrageous?

[Terrysnotmine]

In a shop near me

Why are Eastern Europeans (who suffered far more than the British under the Nazi regime, with invasion, occupation, ghettos, Holocaust transports) more likely to find the word “Nazi” for a general German WW2 soldier offensive?

we are more likely to get upset about what happened at Yalta and afterwards.

This! I just can’t understand the outrage!

Should the sign have said, ‘please do not touch those-who-shalt-not-be-named’?

The Russians, who turfed my great grandparents and grandparents out of their home and then subsequently the Americans, who did the same one more time, wouldn’t have been able to this without you.

Can’t we say Nazi now then?

What are you offended by OP?🤔

Which is massively different to the completely ignorant claims being made above that the other allies didn’t contribute.

I think it is offensive and should have said "do not touch the display"

It is the sale of Nazi memorabilia that is banned in some European countries.

that is totally different from war gaming model figures, airfix panzer tanks etc

the apostrophe is outrageous

This isn’t “Nazi paraphernalia”, it’s figurines in historical accurate uniform.

Section 86 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) doesn’t forbid this in Germany, rather - “it is forbidden to distribute, produce, trade or make publicly available on data storage mediums propaganda materials of unconstitutional organizations in Germany”.

See photo of German model shop selling these in Germany. They aren’t propaganda materials.

The law does extend to, “propaganda materials are also banned "which, according to their content, are intended to perpetuate the aspirations of a former National Socialist organization."

So I suppose if they were sold specifically to re-enact WW2 battles with Germany the victor, to be followed by a march holding aloft the glorious victors before a reading of Mein Kampf, you might be on dodgy ground.

But historical military displays? Seems OK under German law.

Like pps I don't understand at all what is offensive about this, and no one who has said it is offensive has said why.

But aren't they model nazi soldiers?

I'm presuming some sort of WW2 recreation model. Wouldn't it be more confusing to call them something else?

Presume they are referring directly to the soldier figurines because not many people would be interested stroking the model grass? (I'm prepared to be re-educated on this, though)

I imagine GCSE history would be almost impossible without being able to refer to nazis.

(Agree about the apostrophe)

Could tell us why you find it offensive though?

That makes a huge difference! All good, carry on.

@HuggsBosom I think it is generally agreed that the fact that the Germans had to fight on two fronts (others too if you count North Africa etc) ultimately led to their downfall. But to say that the Soviets alone defeated the Axis powers is really not true.

Thanks OP this has given me a right good laugh just as I was having a zoom meltdown at work! I think the clue was in the thank you at the bottom of the note!

It’s the scale of the eastern front losses that is key. 80% of the Wehrmacht were deployed there and 80% of German soldiers were lost there - which is approx 4 of the 5 million total who died.

Well I’m a Nazi and I’m offended…

…oh no, I mean I’m not a Nazi and I’m not offended.

No, the Soviets alone didn't defeat Germany but neither can you gloss over their contribution as many in the UK and us tend to do. It wasn't an equal contribution. They won the deciding battle at Stalingrad, which had the bulk of the German army. (They were also the first to enter Berlin, I think). Let's not forget that nearly 25 million soviets died in ww2, much more than in any other country, including the allies. (Only China comes close in terms of fatalities with about 20mio).

Well indeed. I don’t think the poster talking about “Eastern Europeans” even thought about who they meant. Drawing their own personal Curzon line, perhaps?!

If it was a display of fairies in a wooded fairy wonderland would you be upset if they put up a sign saying 'Please do not touch the fairies - Thank you' ?

Or a Teddy bear picnic? 'Please do not touch the bears - Thank you'?

It's obviously a model depicting Nazis at war so not inappropriate at all.

I think in general its sound advice; steer well clear of Nazis. Other than that, if you don't want your Nazis touched, esp small Nazis that might be damaged or stolen etc., I'd say keep them indoors and to yourself. Again, sound advice.

It's massively simplistic to say that Russia beat the Nazis (or the British or the Americans).
Yes, the efforts of Russia in the east, coupled with the bad weather (Hitler almost took Moscow) had the effect of turning the tide, and the losses were huge, but it certainly wasn't a solo effort - there was fighting against Germany in north Africa, against Italy in the mediterranean, etc.
Simplification for simple people...

Not that we should forget the role the Soviet Union played AFTER ww2 either...

(Lest anyone thinks I'm a Russian bot...).

Don’t touch the Nazi’s what?
and why does only one have whatever it is, while all the others go without?
Scandalous

Maybe it's "the Nazi's thank you".

Maybe the display is a present from the Nazis to say thank you to the owner of the shop for something. That's the only way it would make (grammatical) sense.