Current German Law and Nazi Symbols

[eskimo2]

I was curious about the specific language in the German laws that ban the display of the Nazi Swastika.  Does anyone know more details besides “its illegal?”  Does the German government block web sites that display it?  What punishments are in place for violations?  Are school children ever even shown what it looks like?  One could reason that if it is so thoroughly banned, are there citizens who might not even recognize it?  Are there historical museums that display Nazi symbols for historical value?  What else is banned?  Is it illegal to own a copy of Mein Kamf?

I did a Google search on this, but could not find anything specific.  The vast majority of information has the do with the call for the ban of Nazi symbols throughout all of Europe.

Thanks,
eskimo

[Fishu]

To quote one guy: "There is no ban at all in Germany on the discussion of the Nazi era. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is banned is the open display of certain Nazi symbols like the swastika that have been used as a rallying point for neo-Nazi groups. Also banned are Holocaust denial statements."

Throughout europe.. naah.. maybe in the major countries.

At least we, finns, don't really make that big deal out of it.
A symbol has never killed anyone.
However Neo-nazis are complete morons.

[Redwing]

Mornin' eskimo,

I can't provide the exact law texts right now, but here's the gist:

Open display of the Nazi Symbol is illegal as long as it's not being displayed for documentary reasons.
For that reason you will find it in every schoolbook, every movie, every museum and every tv documentary. It's not edited out or censored in hollywood movies, for example. You just won't find it out on the street printed on someones shirt. So yes, anybody in germany will recognize it and no school children leave school without thorough knowledge about the nazi period.
Dealing responsibly with our past is taken very seriously in this country, and I think it's quite safe to say that there's a documentary about WW2 on some tv channel almost every day. I can't imagine how any german citizen would _not_ know details about the nazi period, even if he tried very hard.

Wearing the swastika or the SS rune can get you in jail for up to three years. Of course, it depends on the circumstances. If you wore it at a costume party (like Prince Harry, hehe) you'd probably just end up paying a fine. Wearing it at some neo-nazi rally would mean prison time.

That's about it. There're no blocked websites. Like Fishu said, the discussion of the nazi period is not illegal over here. All that's being done is making a difference between documentary display and casual display.
Owning Mein Kampf is not illegal afaik. I've read excerpts from it in school. You won't find a copy on the shelves of a bookstore, but you could probably order it.

[GRUNHERZ]

Does the law really extend to banning swastikas on planes in video games or on model airplanes?

If it is not banned in entertainment like hollywood movies, how can it be banned in entertainment like games?

[Redwing]

Grunherz,

Admittedly it makes no sense, but that's the way it is. No swastikas on model airplanes and in video games, but they are displayed in entertainment movies.

No idea what the intention behind the ban on model airplanes is, but regarding video games I think this might be due to the fact that the banning law is much older than even the first video games.
Like, they ruled out the swastika's display on entertainment games (back in the 50s they were probably thinking board games and such) and 40 years later computer games were put in the same category which made them collide with said law.
Alternatively they idea behind it might be that a computer game is way more interactive than a movie. If someone is inclined in that way I guess he'd have more fun and possibilities pretending to be a nazi in computer games than while watching movies.
The latter alternative would blend in nice with our nanny government, so it might just be that way.

Just 2 ideas, as I really don't know for sure. I agree it's quite a peculiar exception, but I guess any country has it's share of weird laws.

have a nice day, over here I already do

[lasersailor184]

Grun, even in a historical setting, the high ups in Germany have determined that Swasticas in video games do not fly.  No real reason, they just decided on it.

[Delirium]

The group in here may not like it, but I consider their decision to keep swatikas out of games a good idea.

Why would Germany want their youths to play a game that would encourage constant bombardment of the said symbol in a context that may show the Nazis in a different light than they actually were, while (in some people's eyes) glorifying their accomplishments?

This game is a rare jewel, we base it off historical happenings, but what is to stop someone from making a first person shooter based on an SS group exterminating Polish soldiers and civilians in downtown Warsaw while making the Poles out to be the 'bad guys'?

What would be best is a Government based censor that would review and grant certain groups the ability to use the symbol, but it would cost money, time, and even more time and money to make sure it remained in the proper context. The law they have now is just easier...

[Lye-El]

Originally posted by Delirium
The group in here may not like it, but I consider their decision to keep swatikas out of games a good idea.

 

[Gh0stFT]

Originally posted by eskimo2
I did a Google search on this, but could not find anything specific.  The vast majority of information has the do with the call for the ban of Nazi symbols throughout all of Europe.

Thanks,
eskimo

look here

there you can found what is verboten and whats not verboten,
signs, text and language.

btw, its an official german police url, everthing in german language only.

[Monk]

Wow, alot more then I thought.  Even the Hitler gruß is verboten.

Thought this was funny.

der sogenannte schlampige Führergruß" war eine Spezialität von Hitler

[Replicant]

There's still a few swastika's still visible on on a few buildings in Munich.  See here!