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

Perhaps British people should stop wearing the poppy publicly then, to avoid causing offence to their historical enemies?

Certificates on display in a home usually relate to someone who lives in that home, or has done in the past. Where is the point of displaying the achievement of someone who is presumably no longer alive and has never lived there?

Why on earth would you want to display your family's recent affiliation with N*zis? I'm genuinely surprised that you're asking. I would literally never speak to my friend again if I found this kind of thing displayed in their house 😳

It's a fascinating piece of history and the relative wasn't helping Nazi Germany, she was saving lives as was her calling as a nurse. But I don't think many people would get past the prominent signature of Adolph Hitler. I mean, you know. It would be like a certificate with Jimmy Saville's signature on it. It might be for the most virtuous of deeds but few people are going to consider that. It also depends how many visitors you have and how much time you want to devote to explanations.

She helped injured people? Yes. I would put it up. And explain the history for guedts.

Certificates on display in a home usually relate to someone who lives in that home I am not sure that's true at all?
some people like history.

Some families display achievements and memories going back hundred of years. It's not a modern concept.

If you prefer a clean and minimalist home, nothing wrong with that at all, but (speaking in general) it's can't be that surprising that any others have a lot of family history in their home.

I'd not want to read that name every day. You could maybe cover the name part with a photo of the relative?

I am sure they would be distraught to loose someone with your attitude 😂

I'd hang it. It's interesting and could lead to some good conversations. It's not showing support for Hitler or the Nazis and I don't understand why anyone would be offended.

Not something I would hang anywhere. By doing so it will give the impression you are fans of Hitler.
So no. Many would find it distasteful. I am putting that politely.
And would not need to even ask.

No, there’s lots of things you can hang and display in your home but this one is a little too contentious. I would keep it, but not display it. I don’t display things like that anyway tbh. Maybe if I did collect and display lots of things all together then I might display it with all the other things. But as a standalone show piece then no.

I’d offer it to a museum or something. It’s neither of your medal to hang no matter whether it’s to taste or not

Its kind of like a thank you certificate? Historically fascinating

she saved Germans not all Germans were nazis and not all nazis are German

A nurse shouldn’t discriminate or deny medical treatment for moral reasons. She was a good nurse and it’s an amazing piece of history . I would hang it somewhere , but maybe not anywhere where people could see it without knowing the context.

It does. Everyone should know the history of Hitler and the Nazi party.
The only people who would hang such memorabilia would be supporters of both. And that assumption and impression given would be strong.
To say you do not understand why anyone would be offended is a joke surely? Or are you very ignorant ? Or a Nazi sympathiser. To man who murdered millions, gassed children, tortured many, experimented on them, disabled people of all nationalities and religions.
But you cannot understand why anyone would be offended. Such attitudes in themselves offend.

Yes I’d hang it up, she saved lives

No, never on the wall but then not much makes it onto my walls. Family history is interesting, the Hitler stuff, well but I'd just not hang a medal on the wall regardless.

Well, actually if I was so inclined to hang this sort of thing in my home (which I’m not!) then yes I would. It is family history, I’m assuming she didn’t offer CPR to Hitler himself sending him on his way with a ‘high five’ and telling him to ‘go get em’, and was, as you’ve written, offering first aid to injured enemy soldiers. No, different to medics giving treatment to terrorists/murderers/rapists.

I love history, and this medal and certificate is history whether people like it or not.

It’s not signed by him. He’s just named as the approver. It’s signed by the head of the German Red Cross who was one of Queen Victoria’s grandsons.

As you say Hitler's name is 'prominent' I might consider covering that part of the certificate with a photograph of the relative you're honouring - not in a way that would damage the certificate, perhaps put it in a plastic slip cover and stick the photo onto the slip cover.

I was going to say downstairs loo until I got to Hitler. This belongs in the loft OP.

but I think knowing it's a private home is relevant.

While it might be confusing in an shop or a work place, you only invite friends and family in your home. Not some random from the street. People you have discussions with, people who can ask about the frame if they notice and if they are curious.

If you see an iron cross medal hanging on a friend and relative wall, you don't immediately assume "it's nazi". You ask the history of it?
Your friends won't be that ignorant they will be offended on behalf of someone else.

I wouldn’t display anything with Adolf Hitler’s signature on but I would keep it: it’s a fascinating heirloom! When you know people well and can give the context it would be really interesting.

I'd display it, I'd feel proud to have a family member who'd demonstrated the sort of compassion required to do what she did.

I understand that to many it would feel utterly distasteful to display a document containing the signature of someone as abhorrent as hitler. But the story behind the item is of someone who was the antithesis of hitler.

She didn't allow her actions be dictated by hate or discrimination. She must have been incredibly, brave, dedication and compassionate.

I feel it would be a shame for such an item to be hidden away for fear of offending people. She did something quite remarkable and deserves to be remembered. If you don't feel comfortable displaying it then I'm sure it would be of interest to the Imperial War Museums.

I think it’s interesting from a historical perspective but I wouldn’t hang it in my house. Mainly because I don’t have that kind of decor / display anyway.