Tue, Feb 09 2010

Czech soldiers suspended for Nazi insignia

Tue, Nov 10 2009 15:07 CET byGabriel Hershman 1307 Views 4 Comments
Czech soldiers suspended for Nazi insignia

Russian ultra nationalist makes Nazi-like salute during a demonstration on the outskirts of Moscow November 4, 2009.

Three Czech soldiers who served in Afghanistan have been suspended after they were found wearing Nazi insignia, Czech defence officials say.

Czech defence minister Martin Bartak said their behaviour was "unacceptable" and suspended them immediately. The soldiers' commanding officer was also suspended pending further investigation, defence officials said. "There is no place in the army for people who think this way," said Bartak after the news was revealed by a daily newspaper.

Lieutenant Jan Cermak, a rapid reaction force commander in Logar province, allegedly wore the insignia of the SS Dirlewanger brigade on his helmet.  And Sergeant Hynek Matonoha drew the letter "H" crossed by a sword - signifying the SS Hohenstaufen panzer division - on the side of his helmet.

The soldiers' commander, Colonel Petr Prochazka, tried to conceal the episode to protect his men, the same newspaper reported a fellow soldier as saying.

Bartak has ordered an "immediate and thorough investigation of the case" adding that if an attempted cover-up was proven the people concerned would be "severely punished".

Comments

Anonymous Valeri Wed, Nov 11 2009 23:32 CET
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Don't mean to beat this to death, but here's what makes this funny:
The SS Dirlewanger brigade was a penal brigade composed by German criminals, who were basically plucked out of prison and forced into service towards the end of the war.
The most action they saw, was the savage suppressing of the Warsaw uprising, in killing, raping and torturing civilians - Poles mostly.

Not only is it the least glorious German outfit, but their victims were mostly Slavic Catholic Christians, much like the Czechs. All that tells me that the soldier probably didn't know their history enough to consider the meaning, nor did he cared...

Anonymous Valeri Wed, Nov 11 2009 02:12 CET
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"SS Dirlewanger brigade on his helmetletter", and ""H" crossed by a sword - signifying the SS Hohenstaufen panzer division"

..seem so random that brings me right back to tricks we pulled growing up on unsuspecting teachers.
I was a terrible child, (those soldiers are probably still teenagers) and this story feels like home to me;)

Anonymous Joseph Tue, Nov 10 2009 22:24 CET
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I'm cynical of this too, and I like Valeri's translation. Made me laugh hysterically. And probably true. :)

Anonymous Valeri Tue, Nov 10 2009 21:08 CET
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"The soldiers' commander, Colonel Petr Prochazka, tried to conceal the episode to protect his men, the same newspaper reported a fellow soldier as saying."

Translation:

A few Czech soldiers thought of a clever way to get out of service in Afghanistan, but when their commander saw through it, and tried to "conceal" the hoax, a fellow soldier came to the rescue, by "reporting" on him....

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