What's with the Nazi paraphenalia?

[MagicRat]

I do not intend to offend anyone or cast doubt on the character of any fellow motorcyclist, but, please, can someone enlighten me?

For many years now, certain Nazi WWII era symbols, images and objects seem to be favoured by the more sinister-looking crusier riders.

Whats the point? Do they want to be seen as real bad dudes and dudettes?
Do the worship or wish to emulate one of the darkest and most evil military forces that mankind has ever known.
Some of these guys look like they are Wheirmarcht Panzer Division tank commanders circa 1943, with the fake military - look helmets, iron cross symbols, fake Luftwaffe - looking eagle symbols etc.
Whats next, SS and Gestapo riding outfits?

Seriously, does anyone else find this disturbing and offensive? Millions of our fellow citizens served and fought the regime that produced these images and symbols. Many of them died.
To ride around with Nazi memorabelia, real or suggested does all of them a disserviceto them and their memory.

How about this, maybe these guys should be told to update their wardobe and dress like a member of the Viet Cong, or maybe a radical Islamic suicide bomber.
Are all these equally offensive to you? Or has enought time passed since WWII that its now fashionable, and I should not be offended?

[Z_Fanatic]

could you post a pic of one on a bike or jacket, etc? I never seen one. The only thing that reminds me of Nazi swastika design is those chopper insignias that looks like cross and those WWI- WWII German army helmets with a spike on top, hehe.

[Ace$nyper]

I don't mean to offend either but alot of that isn't nazi birthed signs, used by them yes but all have other more humble and good meanings then what they've come to repesent now.

Those spike helms are ww1, Iron cross symbol of germany forever. Yes the nazis used them, but for some of the things like the eagle as bad as it sounds hell they had style. I had a friend who was a collector he had a leather trench coat from a officer *SA i think* i'll tell you most dashing jacket i've ever seen.

Its very tough looking stuff cool too, granted I think bikes were big from ww2 scouts and all soldiers love spoils of war maybe some scouts got some stuff and wore it caught on as a trend that still follows?

Just my thoughts on this.

[aussieidiot]

i always associated it with their beliefs stemmed with racism. white power and all that kind of stuff. Hitler's belief in the pure race and genetic cleansing seems to be popular with certain cultures within society.

i don't take offence at it and usually ignore it. i believe they use it for reaction purposes. without a reaction from us it will fade.

ever tried asking one of them why. bet they can't give a decent answer without trying to thump you for asking. (good thing my 954 can outrun a harley )

[MagicRat]

Good points from all.
As Ace says, the symbols were adpoted by the Nazis. That 'iron cross' is actually a Maltese cross, (as in the Meditteranian island of Malta, which, ironically was a British territory for decades).
That dreaded 'hooked cross' is an old symbol used by many cultures. I have several books written by Rudyard Kipling and printed about 90 years ago, which have that hooked cross on the binding.

[Z_Fanatic]

Also Hinduism use a similar symbol as the swastika, but in opposite formation with 4 dots on each side.

[aussieidiot]

little known fact. the SA were pretty much all poofs. "training" involved sexual acts with superior ranked members.

[Z_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by aussieidiot

little known fact. the SA were pretty much all poofs. "training" involved sexual acts with superior ranked members.

I didn't know SA/SS officers were also priests.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Z_Fanatic

I didn't know SA/SS officers were also priests.

I can't believe you said that!

[Z_Fanatic]

Did you see the new Pope and his nation of origin?

[2strokebloke]

I think some of it might have to do with the fact that many Americans returning to America from WWII were into motorcycles - and also just happened to have "collected" some momentos from their stay in Germany - and that the style has kind of lived on - for no apparent reason.

[danmdevries]

http://www.geocities.com/danmdevries/DSC01619.JPG