Is it immoral to own a piece of Nazi militaria?

[DGUtley]

A client, a history buff, knows that I am a WWII history buff as well. I am typically always reading a WWII book. I have some period firearms, mostly Allied, though I do have a German Mauser. I don't believe that it has any Nazi markings on it. Years ago, we had two of those monster-size Nazi banners that would've been next to a podium when Hitler or someone spoke. They were captured by my uncle who was in either the 82nd or the Screaming Eagles (He said that was one of the first in Berchestgarden so I think it was the Screaming Eagles) near the end of the war. My aunt insisted that they be sold.

This client has offered me a SA Dagger. Mrs. U thinks it is immoral to own a piece of Nazi anything. I don't know, it is history. What are the thoughts here?

[Cletus]

It is history. There is nothing immoral about owning something from that period and acknowledging what it is.


What's the difference between refusing to own something of historical significance because of who it represents and tearing down historical statues for the same reason? It is not like the Third Reich is going to profit from the purchase. It is dead and gone.

[Lummy]

Nazi collectibles are surprisingly plentiful and usually command big bucks. My opinion of the morality of it is that garbage politicians like Schumer, Nadler, Schiff and the entire bunch at CNN have no morals, so who cares? I do not harbor the sympathy for jews that I once did, but it's their fault. They have raised a lot of excellent reasons to reexamine the events -- especially economic -- of post-WW1 Germany and the reasons Germany did what it did.

If there was a Nazi piece for sale that I wanted (there isn't), I would buy it, particularly the firearms. They're too pricey to justify the expenditure. I'd love to have a German HiPower 9mm.

[HawkTheSlayer]

Is it immoral to own a Confederate Flag?

[Mister D]

I have several period flags, documents (including one from Auschwitz and one from Buchenwald), an RZM armband and a lot of propaganda. I enjoy collecting but I don't display any of it because some people might get the wrong idea.

[DGUtley]

I have several period flags, documents (including one from Auschwitz and one from Buchenwald), an RZM armband and a lot of propaganda. I enjoy collecting but I don't display any of it because some people might get the wrong idea.

I suggested to her that I might buy it and then not display it for that very reason - her response was 'why get it then'.

[Mister D]

A client, a history buff, knows that I am a WWII history buff as well. I am typically always reading a WWII book. I have some period firearms, mostly Allied, though I do have a German Mauser. I don't believe that it has any Nazi markings on it. Years ago, we had two of those monster-size Nazi banners that would've been next to a podium when Hitler or someone spoke. They were captured by my uncle who was in either the 82nd or the Screaming Eagles (He said that was one of the first in Berchestgarden so I think it was the Screaming Eagles) near the end of the war. My aunt insisted that they be sold.

This client has offered me a SA Dagger. Mrs. U thinks it is immoral to own a piece of Nazi anything. I don't know, it is history. What are the thoughts here?

I was able to acquire a few items from guys who were selling items their fathers had brought home from Europe but I was in my 20s at the time and daggers were way beyond my means. I wasn't really interested anyway. I was into flags and propaganda.

[Mister D]

I suggested to her that I might buy it and then not display it for that very reason - her response was 'why get it then'.

Because it's freaking awesome! Let her know.

[Mister D]

Excellent man cave material if it's a more or less private space where only close friends would be.

[jet57]

A client, a history buff, knows that I am a WWII history buff as well. I am typically always reading a WWII book. I have some period firearms, mostly Allied, though I do have a German Mauser. I don't believe that it has any Nazi markings on it. Years ago, we had two of those monster-size Nazi banners that would've been next to a podium when Hitler or someone spoke. They were captured by my uncle who was in either the 82nd or the Screaming Eagles (He said that was one of the first in Berchestgarden so I think it was the Screaming Eagles) near the end of the war. My aunt insisted that they be sold.

This client has offered me a SA Dagger. Mrs. U thinks it is immoral to own a piece of Nazi anything. I don't know, it is history. What are the thoughts here?

I don't think it's immoral: it's a relic of world history. I own a Russian M91-30 (seen in [u]Enemy at the Gate[/i], with the bayonet. On the breach it has the hammer and sickle stamp with the date 1938. I also own an M1 carbine and a 1911 .45. My dad and uncle were in WWII as well. I say keep it. Historians love these things; you ought to see what they have a gun shows.