Backlash over Nazi items sold on Facebook

NAZI memorabilia such as SS badges, a Third Reich military cross and propaganda material are being sold on Facebook.

Items including an SS badge, German military medals, Hitler Youth belt buckles, a Christmas card sent by the Fuhrer and even Nazi ship menus, have recently been posted on the social network’s Marketplace.

A “hand painted cast iron bust” of Adolf Hitler was on sale as of yesterday for £25 and a Hitler Youth figurine of a small boy wearing a Nazi uniform with a huge Swastika displayed behind, was offered for £100.

Also on sale was an “original” Third Reich photo album of Hitler meeting crowds and greeting children, which was posted for £100.

There is no specific law in the UK banning the sale of Nazi memorabilia, but most major auction houses and online shopping sites have policies preventing it.

According to Facebook’s policy, items sold online must comply with the site’s community standards which prohibit the sale of anything deemed offensive.

Campaign groups said internet companies had a responsibility to stamp out the trade in Nazi artefacts as the sale of such goods could fund far-Right groups and promote antiSemitism.

Stephen Silverman, director of investigations and enforcement at the Campaign Against anti-Semitism, said: “It is difficult to comment without knowing more about the incident. However, this is a far-from-straightforward issue.

“While there are perfectly legitimate reasons for acquiring Nazi memorabilia, it is also the case that such items are in demand by those who fetishise the Nazi regime or by far-Right groups who publicly display them at their events.”

Facebook said it works to improve methods of identifying potential breaches of its policies and removes banned items when aware of them.