**sigh**

[paddywhack]

you know its just not fair! i see all these great frame pics medals and the like and i cant do the same cos of my parents! russain stuff is grand but not german!!
anyone have similer problems showing there collection of from wifes/girlfriends /parents?? anyone have any suggestions on how to show off ones collction while not pi**ing of anyone??(or is this possible???
cheers!

[Matthew T S]

My mom always hates it when I tell her that I spent over $300 on 'nazi stuff'. She hates the Third Reich, but that doesn't stop me from buying any items related to it.

[Frank Scheepers]

I still live at home (for now)
But both of my parents... my whole family actualy don't have any problems with it.
It's just the way you bring it to their attention.

Regards,
Frank Scheepers

[djpool]

Wifes Support

Actually my wife is very supportive of my collecting. 2 weeks ago there was a ration box on E Bay that I had top on my want list.Figured it would sell for between $300-$500. I could come up with $300 and my wife said to increase my proxy bid to $500 and she'd cover it.Fortunately it only went for $300 but I really appreciated the gesture.Shes a great lady!Regards Jim

[paddywhack]

ha ha ALL my stuff i buy is 40 to 50 euros!!! no matter what it is!!!!! well i kinda treat them like mushrooms!!! keep in the dark and feed them bullsh*t!!!
i always find it ironic that they hate the "nazi" stuff but dont have a problem with commi stuff!!
i guess thats life!!!

[Phil DeWitt]

Strange to us perhaps...

I have the same problem as you, Paddywhack - all of my 3. Reich goodies are hidden away, while the WWI stuff is tolerated.. my wife is worried about what people will think.. can't say that I blame her for that, many people do not appreciate our hobby in the least, and just figure people who collect 3. Reich are whacko violent skinhead racists.. not the case, as those sort will not pay the price for authentic, do not appreciate the history, and intend only to frighten with what has become to many the symbol for evil.

The solution? For me it is to build a war room, in the meantime I keep the jewels in a display case in the bedroom, and some of the larger stuff packed away. Not the best way, but will have to do until the extra room is sorted out.

B. Rgds,

Phil

[Jean-Loup]

My grand mother loves Hitler. Oopps, its the other way round. But she never bothered me about my collection. I also have lots of French and US stuff; its not just a collection of swastikas.
JL

[Greg S]

Russian vs German badges, if anyone bothers to listen I do inform them of the Russian atrocities and the victors write the history. It is interesting that my son can walk out of the house with a hammer and sickle on his hat but go out with a swaz and you are branded a neo-nazi! History isn't understood by all and it isn't taught to be understood. I hope that makes since but it is frustrating what part of history is taught, and what part isn't.

I am thankful that my wife understands. We compromised on my displaying my stuff. If a swaz can be seen 10 yards away then I don't display it (Flag, armband) but if someone comes closer and then sees one, well thats to bad.

[Frank Scheepers]

I think it's pretty normal for people to get "scared" when seeing a swastike...
But i was wondering... are we getting used to them... the swastika i mean?
Or is it that we knew alot more of the history of the german reich... and that we also see the good things in it (besides the bad)?

Frank Scheepers

[Tyler Ramsey]

are we getting used to them... the swastika i mean?

I know I have, sometimes I'll be driving down town and I'll see a swas here or there and I really don't pay much attention to it till I realize that there is a huge swas, were everyone can see it

[DJT]

Patrick,

Why dont you try and educate your parents and family about what you collect. Explain the historical facts behind the items. Point out that the Communists were on the same level if not worse than the Nazis. No offence but to hide the stuff away like you do is to almost admit there is something wrong with collecting it.

I`m suprised by your parents reactions to your collection because I have found in my experience attituides in Ireland towards German WW2 items to have always been fairly accepting (One notable exception was a BS article written by some dimwitted hack in the Evening Herald harping on about how Yahoo and Ebays decision to ban Nazi items was a victory for humanity and the people who wanted to buy Nazi memorabilia were all Nazis anyway. Needless to say The editior got a blistering reply from me )

Are your parents aware that our goverment expressed official sorrow at the news of Hitlers death?? (Perhaps you should point things like that out to them).

I must have been lucky. Both my parents not only let me collect "old nazi army stuff" they actually encouraged it by lending me money for items, bringing me to numerous museums and bringing family friends and relatives around to have a look at my room which was akin to a German bunker at the height of my teenage years. In fact if it was`nt for watching films like "Where Eagles Dare", "The Bridge at Remagen", "The Longest Day", "A bridge too far" with my Dad I never would have got interested in collecting militaria. My Dad bless his heart even bought me my first "big item". A well used but genuine Hitler Youth Dagger for the princely sum of 75 British pounds back in 1990 (Still have it, will never sell it ).

True these days I dont really collect German items (I only actively collect Allied) but I am not embarassed or scared to show friends or anyone else interested in my collection items which include the dreaded swastika. Joe Public are ignorant and get their history lessons from hollywood films and mass media drivel. Its our job to educate them with history and the facts.

Regards,

Des

[DJT]

By the way my parents always knew my politcal views were definitely not right wing and I was not some neo nazi in the making. They realised I was just intrigued and fascinated by the history of the Third Reich and rightly encouraged that interest. They thought it was better I was spending a few hundred pounds or whatever on old military stuff where I would sometimes get a return on my money rather than blowing it on the latest Nike runners that would be worn out and worthless after 4 or 5 months.

However they did see the funny side of my hobby and interest and occasionally made fun of me by calling me Gunther or Hans

Regards,

Des

[paddywhack]

tell me about it!!! my dad is a shrink and NO MATTER how much i argue,point out the true or anything he ALWAYS twist my words and i lose the argument but i guess it is abit more fun around the dinner table that way!!
oh and des i wrote a blistering who the hell do you thing you are reply to the editer,ha ha the evening herald good for starting fires and wiping your a*s with if you run out!!
but i dont hide all off it away its just that parents are just about ok with me framing up my russan stuff hell my dad even helped my frame the bloody stuff!!(hes a FANTASTIC DIY guy!!) ,but the only way i shut them up is go "well would you prefer i spend the money on drugs!!!!" that shuts them up!!!!! ha ha!!
but does anyone have any suggestions on how maybe i could get some stuff up but but up any argument they may have against it???!!!
thanks again!!

[stevenn]

displaying 3rd reich

When I started collecting an old collector showed me a little secret.You take 2 frames the same size and put one on top of the other then,attach them together using hinges down one side.In the top fframe put the "cute bunny stuff" ;on its back and in the frame underneath you put the "good"stuff.Visitors and parents see inoffensive things unless you swing the frame open.Another tack I use is to explain it's there for educational purposes;to remind that things of beauty and craftsmanship can distract a country away from evil.That one still works for me when I show my stuff at medals shows or at schools.

[Blitz]

I'm glad that my parents and friends don't have a problem with what i collect. Allthough they don't always approve it, since i use most of my income in collecting nowadays. I can get really pissed of if people try to tell me that collecting things that have swaz in them is somehow bad But, luckily that almoust ever happens. If you're debating the issue, i have a few points for you: What you're collecting is a piece of history, you can't deny it by putting it out of sight. Not every man who wore Iron Crosses or a swaz in their uniform was a nazi, take Rommel for example. The russians did atleast as bad things as the nazis. Every man who recieved the Iron Cross fought for his country, not for a political party. There you have some points witch to argue