Would you hang this in your house?

[Floofparty]

My DH has inherited a framed certificate and medal which was presented to a relative in 1937 when she was a British army nurse. She was stationed in Spain when a German battleship was bombed and she helped care for the injured.

The medal was awarded to her by the German Red Cross with the approval of Adolf Hitler, and his name is very prominent on the certificate - it stands out more than any of the other text. Do you think it’s bad taste to hang this in our house, or is it merely an interesting piece of historical memorabilia?

YABU - guests may take offence or think it odd
YANBU - hang the frame

Its not glorifying “ h “. It honouring her humanity id take a photocopy for family records / story

And donate to a museum

id not put any certificate photos etc thing on my wall it not my taste so id not put that for this reason mainly

if it were a direct relationship like mum or granny i may put it somewhere as a discussion point if it was framed to my house style

In my opinion, it’s in very bad taste.

The idea of hanging it in your home and having it on display seems particularly odd, especially as you’ve pointed out that Adolf Hitler’s name is so prominent on it.
Personally, that’s not something I would want displayed in my home.
Perhaps it would be better kept in the loft as a piece of history for future
generations, or even donated to a museum or historical organation where it could be preserved and viewed in the appropriate context.

Would you really want something with Adolf Hitler’s name so prominently displayed in your home, knowing who he was and what he represented?

I probably wouldn't put it where everyone who enters your home would be sure to see it first thing, but there shouldn't be a problem with displaying it somewhere that mostly closer friends/family would spend time, if you like it and find it interesting and aesthetically pleasing. I'd just be prepared to tell the whole story whenever I noticed someone looking at it.

I’d sell it or donate it to a museum

I’d keep it, but in a closed folder or document box. Fascinating piece of history but likely to fade if hung in sunlight.

I wish I could say I’d rise above it or I would see the wider picture, but as a Jewish woman if I walked into someone’s house to see a framed anything with Hitler’s name I would be very sure to have an exit route planned. Would make me anywhere from slightly to deeply uncomfortable depending on how well I knew you.

No I wouldn’t for various reasons all covered upthread.
I’d not want it in my house full stop to be honest, I’d be donating it elsewhere.

This is how I feel about it tbh. It’s an interesting artefact from history.

Really? Better to give it to a museum now than make it a problem for future generations (if there are any) who will likely give it away or just chuck it.

When my grandfather passed away we found all this nazi stuff in his workshop in the basement. He was an American paratrooper in WW2 and apparently took souvenirs off of everyone he killed. Didn’t tell us and we had no idea. Very unsettling when we opened the drawer! It was all part of our family history but none of us wanted any of it so we got rid of it. Just made me feel a bit sick honestly.

I think its an interesting historical family item and would never give it away. I would most certainly not hang it up though, because that would make it feel as though I was proud of some association with Hitler, which I certainly wouldn't be

I don't know what in the OP's post made anyone think they wanted to give it away!

Because we don’t see it as a “problem” or some sort of shameful secret. Why should we?

I would never "not hang" something in my own home because it "might" offend the terminally offended.

It's my private house, if someone wants to take offence, they are free to not visit?

I also don't believe in trying to hide or rewrite history, there's literally nothing that needs to be whispered? A nurse help the injured. If someone has a problem with that, they are weird.

If someone mentions the name Hitler, I would be happy to explain the story.

I wouldn't leave it hanging above the bed in the guest room if we had elderly friends or relative staying over, whose own family had been victims of the nazis, but common sense goes both ways.

Definitely. Its a real conversation starter.

I'm guessing you are someone who has no jewish friends. I hope so, anyway, if you think they are just "terminally offended"!

Do you have Jewish friends or relatives?

I think this may be one of those situations where MN is just a bit wide of its mark with its advice.

You know you / your home / your family and your friends / types of people you will have in your house better than anybody on MN.

Personally, the types of people I would have in my house aren’t people who are going to jump to the conclusion that I’m a Nazi if they saw something like that displayed.

I do actually have a copy of Mein Kampf on a bookcase somewhere as well. Have been meaning to read it for over 20 years now and never got around to it. I’m certainly not a Nazi / fan of Hitler.

I think what she did was great and if you can remember it in a different way that’s great, but a certificate given out by Adolph Hitler isn’t really the recognition it warrants. I’d keep it as interesting memorabilia but I’m struggling as to why the certificate specifically is something to be proud of.

did you even read my post?

First my jewish friends are a lot smarter than many posters on here, and don't get randomly offended.

It takes very narrow-minded people to be frightened like that or feel the need to hide anything that could be remotely "embarrassing'. How is a nurse saving people embarrassing exactly?

I also said that I would obviously not make it a focal point above their bed if they were staying.

No jewish friends confirmed.

I might but in in downstairs loo aas a conversation point provided I had no likely guest who relatives were prisoners of war or slaughtered by the Nazis. But in preference I would maybe donate it to a war museum or your local museum where you DH relative came from.. Museums often have ' Xxx town at war exhibitions, so this might make an nteresting item

yes I agree with the needing to explain thing and that could just get tedious. I'd offer it to either the London War Museum or is there a museum local to where she lived who might like it? Failing that I'd put it away carefully. If you are going to dispaly it, do keep it out of direct sunlight as that can damage such things.

if you have an opinion then just do what you want to do.

I think it's bizarre that some people are so frightened of "what will people say" they make it the only thing that matters in their life.

Thinking about it, I have seen war artefact in many houses (more older than younger people to be fair), and I don't believe they created any outrage. Surely they attract curiosity and a discussion, it's just a part of history. In many countries, most families have family members who were victims of the nazis. It doesn't mean it's a provocation or an insult not to hide something like the OP's frame.

You'd think someone put a framed selfie with Putin in their living room before inviting Ukrainien friends. Not exactly the same is it