Richard
Swastikas at Frankfurt Book Fair
October 10, 2007 12:00 AM
We're off to Frankfurt Book Fair this week for the annual European book trade extravaganza. We'll have some of the Duel artwork up as a backdrop to the exhibition stand with one slight difference. Come to the stand (J955 in Hall 8) and look closely at the FW190 as it swoops down and you'll see something missing.
The swastika on the tail has gone. It's illegal in Germany to display the symbol appropriated by the Nazis, which makes entirely good sense when you are trying to prevent Neo-Nazi groups getting the oxygen of publicity. But it doesn't make much sense to me when dealing in the illustration of historical fact.
COMMENTS
I am not a lawyer but as far as I know you may show a swastica in educational and historical literature. Maybe the bookfair with many visitors is not the best place for a big swastica display.
Posted by: Tanked | October 10, 2007 at 06:14 PM
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Is the swastika allowed to be displayed for religious reasons? I know it is a commonly used symbol in Hinduism.
Posted by: Sam | October 13, 2007 at 04:13 AM
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Sadly the wiped out swastikas could soon be common all over Europe: the Germans are pushing through EU legislation to have it banned EU-wide.
As far as I'm aware the conditions over swastikas are very, very tight. To the extent that it can pretty much only be shown in museums.
What is interesting about the whole thing is how in western Germany they have a problem with left-wing anarchists but in ex-Soviet eastern Germany they have a problem with right wing skinheads.
Posted by: xeoran | October 15, 2007 at 03:43 PM
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