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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;the blacksmith, post: 12380579, member: 20148&quot;]Anyhting official to do with the nazis or that had a swastika on it was sanctioned by the party and had the RZM mark on it. Every item thus marked also had a small percentage of the cost paid to the party, even Hitler got a rake off from the party for using his head on postage stamps! There are though locally made unofficial items without the RZM mark, but all official party daggers etc had it, and they were responsible for design and quality etc. The RZM stands for Reichszeugmeisterei.</p><p><br /></p><p>Frank,&nbsp; yes that is quite true about the Ritterkreuz being reissued without a swastika. The showing of this emblem in Germany is still, and quite rightly, illegal. Aircraft are displayed in museums for instance with the Balkan Kreuz only, never the swastika. There are weapons dealers there who though they sell original weapons, all images on their website are edited so as not to show the emblem.</p><p><br /></p><p>The historical aspect of these items is fascinating, but I totally respect and understand those who cannot, or will not, have anything to do with them. The funny thing though is that if you are an opera lover, as I am, then when you go to Covent Garden and see a Wagner opera, see how many elderly German people are there. They absolutely love Wagner, but so too did Hitler, Reinzi being amongst his favourites.</p><p><br /></p><p>As Evelyn has pointed out, many were drafted into the SS. Most notable perhaps being the actors Hardy Kruger and Horst Tappert (Derrick), who was transferred from the army into the SS. Kruger was a young teenager at the end of the war when he was drafted into the Waffen SS. </p><p><br /></p><p>my apoligies, as this wasn&#039;t meant to be a discussion on the Third Reich, but merely thought I&#039;d point out a few osbervations.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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