I am starting to believe that these things are not a coincidence. There is just too much recreational Nazism in Europe, that seems to be getting a quiet nod. Croatia, NATO new member, routinely puts on display the recreational "love" for Nazism. Sporting events, rock concerts, are perfect opportunities for the young to don their Ustasha and Nazi outfits, and chant "for homeland, ready", or raise their right hand by the tens of thousands in Nazi salute. All that while the Minister of Education with his kids is in audience. Why infect the young with the fad, why the silent consent? Many Baltic and East European cities have embarked on Nazi nostalgia-fest. I am starting to be convinced that there is some sort of a nod involved. But what would be the purpose? The one and only I can see is to stir the emotions in Germany. To get its youth to embrace recreational Nazism, and occassionally drub some Turks, Serbs, Roma, etc. And the real objective is to create conditions in Russia to start worrying about the future of Germany, and freeze in its tracks the growing German-Russian partnership. It seems that the "new Europe" has been recruited for the task. I just do not believe in too many coincidences. These soldiers have been selected, and they are not the bottom of the barrell. I am getting convinced that their little jaunt down the memory lane is getting attention. That is what they want in the first place. And who is conspicuously silent on all of this? US, Britain, France, Israel and all the US Jewish organizations. German Government and the leadership at large has a very difficult task. In the face of the economic crisis, they are being asked to shoulder much bigger burden then any other European country. Yet, they are being subjected to provocations in the neighborhood. And nobody to defend them.

What a total disgrace! but hardly unuxpected from Nato, who basically are acting exactly like Nazis with their aggresion, ethnic cleansing, rape and torture in Afghanistan. The Czech's learn't well from their mentors. Too sadly worship of the Nazis is too comon in eastern europe, by both Nato military and politicians. 'Unaware' more like direct support!

You don't get it. You just don't understand. Every human to their core will always strive to understand the things that they are not 'allowed' to understand, or for example if you want to turn something into a Ledged ban it. The many young people that have turned Nazi's into a joke are the direct result of stupid policies banning things, instead of discussing things. In the world of 1 million opinions on every matter the one that comes out of the front of the TV often looks farcical. It was these policies and propaganda that turned Nazis into Cartoons then people complain why young people have cartoon opinions of them? It is the deluge of propaganda that has made the issue a cartoon version of history so people are getting the direct exact response from the society that the propaganda is aimed at. Cartoon opinions, jokes and memes. Society will just reflect back what is thrown at it but in a more complex manner because controlled information is becoming irrelevant. Bianca I wouldn't worry too hard it's one thing to laugh about Nazi's and another to be marching off to the eastern front again, Russia and Europe will naturally come together as friends, of course there will be bumps in the road, but some nazi symbols wouldn't present issues that couldn't be resolved and if they did, well, then we are all retarded. and the world has gone crazy. could go either way i suppose.

K. e; that is exactly what I thought for a long time; I have changed my mind. There was a doze of curiosity in Eastern Europe with anything "hip". They lived the "dull" lives, secure but without a taste of forbidden fruit of all kinds. It was natural, and predictable that the "discovery" period was going to be "interesting'. As in Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times". What has transpired after twenty years is a form of malignancy. Governments in Eastern Europe seem to have discovered that continuing with the silent approval, and occasional open approval, they have managed to create a fringe culture that is growing in size. To that culture the subtle message is, "we have won". By "we", all those who participated in Hitler's war effort, their children and grandchildren stand vindicated as the Soviet Union, the victor, is no more. The rabid behavior of those who have been born AFTER the wall fell, is one indication of the structural support for the continuity of these values. Politicians are agile beings. They do not waste their time on nonprofitable things. It is clear that the "knowing smile" that accompanies usually any conversation with politicians on the subject, tells the story. Their words "condemn", but their expressions, offer encouragement. Since this project has some tangible and intangible values, it is important to understand what it is. One is more then obvious. It is to continue to poke at Russia, to taunt it, to provoke it. It is to arouse the feelings of dislike and disdain in Russian population for Eastern Europe and Baltics, and vice versa. It is to use the "fear" of Russia, and the carefully fed dislike, as a means of controlling the "new Europeans". It is a way of getting the very important financial support for the politicians and their staying in power. But the less obvious is to stir up German nationalism and put an end to the growing partnership.

this is actually the truth, .. NATO is German's goal, now European supercountry, that has swallowed all of europe, .. just look at the map, it is the long ambition of all european leaders, to unite all of Europe under one banner, ..

Bianca, You may find it surprising but neo-nazis are the problem in Russia, too. It has nothing to do with poking Russia. This always happens when there are economical problems in society.

Bart, yes there are nazis everywhere but not in all countries nazis are allowed by the authorities to have their marches in public like in many EU and NATO countries. Not everywhere nazis are allowed to erect monuments to SS criminals like in some EU and NATO countries (e.g. Estonia).

The problem is not some officers wearing nazi symbols, they wouldn't dare to do so if their political leadership didn't give them the "good" example... In Eastern Europe, the NWO has revived nazism and created an anti-Russian hatred zone. In many East European countries, nazism is the unadmited official ideology. They condemn while others watch and encourage with a friendly slap at the back when they are alone... So the officers are doing what they have been tought to do. If they learn at school about the nazi "heroes" that fought against the "evil" Soviet army, they will bear svasticas and ss symbols with pride. So, don't be angry with me if I tell you that actually it's not their fault... Propaganda can do that and much worse. In Eastern Europe, the NWO has revived nazism and created an anti-Russian hatred zone. These countries are to carry out the most agressive anti-Russian policies of USA regardless of any consequences to themselves. So the peoples of these countries must be taught to hate Russia to the death... Using what USSR did to this countries, US propagandists easily managed to "vindicate" the nazi agression. And indeed some of these countries WILLINGLY allied with the nazis back in WW2. So a nazi background was already there and so US minions' job was very easy. Those who still have some brains in their heads realize that capitalism destroyed their lives as they have no money, no job and banks will soon take their houses. They wish bad comies were back... The rest are brainwashed nazis ready to give their lives for the glory of USA. I agree with Count_Cash, NATO acts like nazis. So it is expected to nurture nazism where it is possible. None tortures and kills better than a nazi...

I like Giuglietto Chiesa, but this time I think he's wrong. The Czechs are well-known for their sardonic humor. It's codified in their national epic: The Adventures of the Good Soldier Svejk in the Great War. I'm myself part Slovak and possibly Czech and I've read the Czech "Black Book" put out by the Czech Academy of Sciences, which was a hilarious satire of the Czech "White Book" which the Stalinist aparatchiks authored to cover up their overreaction to the 1968 "Prague Spring". Both of these, and many other Czech works, are filled with the darkest kinds of pokes at the establishment. What is a high-ranking soldier to do when he is ordered to carry out Schutzstaffel (SS) work in Afghanistan or be kicked out of the Czech Army? I agree with Christopher Hoestler, who knows the Czech sense of humor better than Chiesa. I also agree with the people here who reflect the guarded historical fact that NATO was a nazi creation. When Hitler threw down the sword, the US and UK picked it up and continued the war on the USSR (mostly by political means rather than confront the superior Red Army head-on, if I can echo the recent remarks by the RT reporter about the uneasy peace in Bosnia).