German naval flag

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Gentleman and ladies of course !!!! Can any one tell me why the crooked cross is not included in the centre of the flag on the italeria e boat ?? is it some sort of political decision so as not to upset our friends in the good old EU ??

As a certain erwin von rommel once said ” the finest tank trap ever built was the english channel ” i bet the old boy would be laughing his socksoff now seeing a tunnel and all these people sneaking in .

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Yes, by EU ruling, absolutely no form of “advertising” of the Nazi party /third riech or any thing else signifying Naziism can be offered, advertised or even shown, as it is against the European Court laws and the offender is liable to god knows how much of a fine and a term in prison.

That is why ebay remove any and all things including models of Bismark if the Swastika can bee seen on bow and stern.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t put it on yourself…as it is just replicating the item you are building… that is NOT  an offence, but trying to sell in europe with it showing would be.

 

However….you are perfectly and legally able and entitled to do so in the UK though ( but not Eire. as it is a seperate body within the EU).

 

Funnily enough though it is NOT illegal to put on or advertise models with the Japanese rising sun insignia on it.

Now how about that for complications.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 07/07/2009 13:49:38

[Rick FryerParticipant @rickfryer11539]

This actually pre-dates the EU, EEC or Common Market. Back in the 50s when plastic models were taking off (excuse the pun!) no swastikas were included in kits of WW2 German aircraft as it was illegal to display them in West Germany.

 

Rick

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

sorry, rich,
 

but I remmember very vividly building a Stuka JU 87 and I broke the stansfer of the Swastika on the tail rudder, so they were still available as such in the UK and that was a revelle kit.

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

I have previously inquired of the Military Modelling Editor about this, particularly as the October issue of MB will feature a Vorpostenboot with a Swastika flag.

He tells me that his understanding has always been is that  there is no restriction in the UK for showing the Swastika or indeed in Europe, but Germany has  long had a law preventing glorification of the Third Reich and Swastika. Having said that it is impossible to remove it from German historical documents or equipment so some latitude is allowed in Germany. Magazines are exempt and in any case MB is British. The cover image will have the Swastika ‘bleached out’ but inside the pictures will be as supplied.

Kit manufacturers  used to get round the problem for kits destined for Europe including Germany by sometimes including a a plain circular white decal  and elsewhere on the sheet a couple of black ‘L’s’ which the purchaser could work out what to do with.

So, a model can display it, but in Germany, particularly at big German trade events such as Intermodellbau which has many German clubs displaying, it will not normally be shown. UK and rest of the world  military modellers if constructing a diorama where the tanks display this emblem or figures have it on their uniforms,  to be true to scale, will often  have the swastika if historically correct.

So in summary, the Swastika should not be glorified but in a historical context it is ok. Kit manufacturers have played safe when their kits are available worldwide including Germany which is major market for many of them. If my Brentwood Model Yacht and Power Boat Club decided to use the Swastika as its logo, this would be totally inappropriate and offensive even in the UK, but a model based on photographic evidence is ok.

Paul Freshney

Editor of MB

[Author]

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