My friends totally chewed me out for saying I've collected some things from the Third Reich

[jh92]

You figure people would freak out when they see Russian stuff.. Considering how "good " their past is. The major reason nazis are hated is becuase of the Holocuast(reslulted in 6 milion deaths), well Stalin had 20 milion Russian Citizens killed. I am not defending either side!!! I hate them both, just pointing out something...

[Nige H]

My friends have known for awhile about some of the American-type things I have, and they've thought it was all damn cool, my m1 helmet, the medal or two that I own, the pearl harbor newspaper clipping, but the SECOND that I told them that I owned a nazi armband, I casually told them on facebook, they all FREAKED OUT and started sending me hateful messages about how, if I'm a nazi, they can't be my friend anymore, and since I support nazis that I'm not going to have any friends anymore, they TOTALLY got the wrong idea. That doesn't even make any sense, why jump to conclusions like that? I just thought I would write it here among fellow collectors.

The problem is that some people see collecting WWII items as some form of sexual perversion or as I call them "Why the hell would you want that" brigade. People just can't see beyond what the item is or the significant period of history that the item represents. As to your friends it does seem a little sort sight of them to condemn you as a fascist or Nazi type of supporter due to have a items that belonged to the other side or the bad guys to use a film term, which help to balance up your collection. I know that many vets brought German items back with them, many of which were marked with all the emblems of the Nazi ideology that you can think of, so does this make every Vet including my great Uncle Stanley a Nazi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmm some how I think not. I'd keep your Nazi items and lose those friends, as real friends would understand your interests and be prejudiced by a knee jerk reaction to a situation that they have not really given much consideration.

Nige.

[jh92]

The problem is that some people see collecting WWII items as some form of sexual perversion or as I call them "Why the hell would you want that" brigade. People just can't see beyond what the item is or the significant period of history that the item represents. As to your friends it does seem a little sort sight of them to condemn you as a fascist or Nazi type of supporter due to have a items that belonged to the other side or the bad guys to use a film term, which help to balance up your collection. I know that many vets brought German items back with them, many of which were marked with all the emblems of the Nazi ideology that you can think of, so does this make every Vet including my great Uncle Stanley a Nazi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmm some how I think not. I'd keep your Nazi items and lose those friends, as real friends would understand your interests and be prejudiced by a knee jerk reaction to a situation that they have not really given much consideration.

Nige.

I agree! Concerning what your friedns I will tell you what my Advanced placement cheistry teacher told my class, MOST PEOPLE ARE DUMB

[banksy]

Hello

I try too keep my hobby to my self I have one or two close friends that I show my collection too I try to explan that german solders where also men and not all where monsters as they where shown to be !

Its been a pain with builders coming I'n recently i moved a lot of my collection but they saw a gun and cloud not understand why I liked things that caused mutilation and took lifes There words not mine...

I would not have put any info what so ever I'n face book !

[M18922]

My classmates learn about the war from call of duty and killing nazi zombies.
i learn from WRF and books.
They judge me by my interests.
i judge them from thier way of looking at the war and thinking everything is cool and drawing pictures of AK47s makes them popular.

i have only one true friend and he is my neighbour. at first he was amazed at my collection and asked a million questions. (i only sarted collecting 10 months ago, how time flies ). then as i got more and more stuff he started telling me about jews and the camps. i already know that what they did was horrible. he started to understand and now he is the only friend i show my collection to.

when i started collecting i had it all on a table. that was fine for a while untill i realized that friends are more important and i hid my collection in a box. (my medals and pictures). but when they say my swiss helmet is german I tell them its not. They think i am some german nazi freak. it upsets me. but this forum is my getaway and i feel at home with people who understand my interest. Facebook is horrible, my friends are all on it but after a day it grew boring.
My friends are the people who understand me and thats you guys

[Rakkasan187]

I just wanted to add to this topic and bring it back up since the last post on here was about 7 years ago...

A friend and fellow collector of militaria (minus German items) contacts me quite often as he seeks my advice on items he has purchased over the years. He has collected some remarkable medal groupings and other items over the years since he has been bitten by the bug. He is relatively new to collecting militaria items and in my opinion has some deep pockets, but that's neither here nor there.. He purchases the items for the research potential which is the thrill of the hunt for him, Whenever he comes to my office, I can see the excitement in his eyes when he has a new find.

He has steered away from German items, and I am guessing due to reproductions and fakes he has opted not to collect them which is fine.. He has also given me a few German items that he purchased in bulk lots in trade for some US items of interest that I have had...We never really discussed why he has no interest in Third Reich items, and why I do,,, perhaps the next time we get together we will have this conversation...

We have a mutual respect for the interests we each have.. He knows that I have a large collection of Third Reich items, and some of those items are associated with the National Socialist Party as well as artifacts that are directly associated with the Holocaust as well, but most of the items I have are directly related to the German Armed Forces, Army, Air Force and Naval units.

Yesterday he contacted me about something military related at an antique store in town and after the conversation he told me that there were some ladies that owned the antique shop that were bringing in some "Nazi Medals" to the antique store since they knew he collected "military stuff"... (Note where this conversation is going...).. He mentioned to me that since he does not collect "Nazi stuff" he would ask for pictures and forward them to me..

When I got home he texted me with some pictures that the ladies took, (Horrendous pictures by the way) of the "NAZI" stuff.. Well, it took 1.2 seconds to determine there was not one "Nazi" related item in the group.. Of the 5 "Nazi Medals" 1 was Hungarian (WW1), 1 was WW1 German (Cross of Honor with Swords), 1 was British (WW1 Propaganda piece) one was Third Reich (War merit Cross 2nd Class w/o Swords) and one was a Catholic Medal)...

The simple fact that one of the decorations had a swastika on it (In the eyes of the ladies) (No disrespect towards our female collector counterparts), the whole lot of medals has been deemed "Nazi" (They want $300.00 for the lot which is not worth more than $75 which I mentioned to my friend)......and I would assume by the lack of knowledge by the ladies who own the antique store and ignorance on their behalf,,, anyone who would collect such items is repulsive and undeserving of their time...(This antique shop also does not have the best customer service reviews)...

I have been a collector now for nearly 50 years (Wow, can't believe I'm nearing the half century mark).. I have seen and heard a lot of different opinions about folks who collect militaria, for the most part all has been positive, but there have been a few that ask why I collect such things.. Obviously I tell them I collect to educate society on historic events and the outcome of such events and in many cases that seems to satisfy their curiosity. Some people will never understand and say I'm just plain crazy or a Nazi lover etc. (Well that right there tells me they are very close minded and no matter what I say to convince them otherwise, it will not be heard, but such is life)....

I do not hang a poster around my neck saying that I am a militaria collector nor do I mention in regular conversations about my hobbies or interests unless I know the person or persons I am conversing with and then I approach with caution in how much I reveal...

With some of the societal shifts today and ever increasing acts of violence and Human Rights and Civil Rights demonstrations, hardly a day goes by without something on the news about a peaceful demonstration turning violent and deadly, which has led me to again shift my focus on militaria..

I have started to become a "closet collector" for lack of better terms and I very rarely speak about my collection outside of the forum so that I can avoid the almost guaranteed question "Do you Collect Nazi stuff"???, from the less informed and ignorant since many focus on the swastika symbol as THE SIGN of evil and it is what most identify with as evil.. (Even though the Swastika symbol in Native American Heritage was used long before the National Socialist Party adopted the symbol)...

A little information about the swastika (Not that many of you all don't already know this, but I though I would share this not so known fact about Moses Neptune...

The Passamaquoddy Native American tribe, now located in the state of Maine and in Canada, used an elongated swastika on their war canoes in the American colonial period as well as later. A carving of a canoe with a Passamaquoddy swastika was found in a ruin in the Argonne Forest in France, having been carved there by Moses Neptune, an American soldier of Passamaquoddy heritage, who was one of the last American soldiers to die in battle in World War I.

.... And don't forget US Collectors that before the 1930s, the symbol for the 45th Infantry Division of the United States Army was a red diamond with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large Native American population in the southwestern United States.

End of my long winded explanation..

But I can take refuge and comfort in that on here and on a few other forums I can seek conversation, consolation, and camaraderie from like minded collectors and historians who only strive to preserve and capture history for future generations to better understand the human race and how we have adapted over the centuries..

I bid you all Happy Collecting...

Smitty

[Chopperman]

Last summer, my sister (without warning) stopped by my house for a visit.
I had one of my display cases out where it was easily seen. Upon seeing
the open case, she asks me- "How can you collect that Nazi crap?"

Now my sister has known for 50 years that I have an interest in and collect
military items. It has never been an issue and she even once brought an old
knife for me to look at, thinking it might be military. The display case that
I had open was full of ww1 iron crosses. Not a single swazi to be seen, but to
her it was still "Nazi crap". To her, anything german military related is "Nazi" and of coarse
that means evil and twisted. I don't think she could even tell you what decade
ww2 took place in.

I have no problem telling people that I collect "Military items" but I don't
mention anything about German crosses until I have a good feel for what their
understanding of what "military items" means and I most definitely do not
display any TR items where the average house guest can see them.

[guns ltd]

I have found that over the 30 odd years I have been collecting. I don't talk about what I collect or what I have to just anyone. Most of my friends don't know and I like it that way. Learned early on not to talk about it to just anyone. On this forum is where I talk about my collecting. I have made many friends from all over the world here and we do not judge one another. just some wisdom from an old collector.



John

[Rakkasan187]

Greg and John,,.

Well said both of you and thanks for keeping the topic going again. It's important to gain perspective on topics such as these once in a while..

Smitty

[reneblacky]

For me I just say I have a balance of the junk (of which I do) and me working in a totally politically correct work place! I still get good respect even if I mention the nasty nazi stuff but.... they do think........ to my gain Plus you can make it good fun if you bring in the nerf gun

Pic of a security guard at my work place at gun point
Bottom line - keep it simple!