The Consumerist posted about a new Nazi SS skull t-shirt sighting at an Ohio area Wal-Mart. It’s been 22 weeks now since I first found them at my local Wal-Mart and posted something about it. Since then, Wal-Mart has issued apology after apology along with promises to remove the offending shirts as quickly as they can.
They then proceed to continue selling the shirts as though nothing ever happened.
This is just too ridiculous. Even for Wal-Mart. Either they want to sell Nazi SS skull t-shirts to kids or they don’t. They need to make up their mind. I realize that Wal-Mart likes to say one thing and do another when it comes to how they treat their employees, but this is about selling a t-shirt with an image worn by Nazi SS concentration camp guards at Auschwitz. Claiming that they offer affordable health insurance to their employees even though they don’t is not the same thing as claiming that they don’t want to sell Nazi SS merchandise even though they seemingly do.
I realize they are used to lying about stuff. They shouldn’t lie about this.
I noticed that this story made it’s way to digg again. A lot of people are commenting on this issue as though it’s something new. Some people are making the same lame retarded arguments that this is not a Nazi SS skull image even though it is an exact copy. They claim it’s just a skull. I used to get emails every day from people saying all sorts of things. Right now their are digg users arguing about Wal-Mart selling these t-shirts as though it wasn’t already argued to death last year on digg. Are these people all new digg users? Why didn’t any of these digg users making these comments last year? Not to say other digg users didn’t try to make similar flawed arguments.
E.K.
/ April 24, 2007Does that shirt say “Since 1978″? Write them up for being forty years off the mark on disturbing symbol origin as well as the general concept of selling SS iconography as a fashion statement.
Regarding Wal-Mart’s desire to sell Nazi t-shirts to kids, I would rather attribute it to ignorance — albeit shameful ignorance — than some kind of evil commerce-at-any-cost impulse. As Nazi iconography goes, the Totenkopf is relatively obscure, especially when compared to the twin lightning bolts or the swastika. I dimly recall you saying in the past that you were not a history buff, but your understanding of the given symbol’s place in history is at least somewhat exceptional. I suspect that Wal-Mart is merely taking advantage of the Caribbean pirate memorabilia fad, which features the skull-and-crossed-bones motif prominently, and dismissing the connection with the SS as negligible because — if my guess is anywhere near the truth — their knowledge of Nazi insignia begins and ends with the swastika.
According to the (Jewish) Anti-Defamation League, misuse of Nazi imagery is not new to Wal-Mart. I suspect that they simply do not know better.
Jimmy Junkster
/ May 7, 2007Today I read Rick’s original post on this (9th Nov 2006) and all of the 83 comments which followed.
Having weighed it up, I have to side with Rick on this. These are the main points of argument:
1. The skull insignia in question is specific to the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf (“Death’s Head” division). Arguments relating to any other skull insignia (or the swastika) are not relevant.
2. The Totenkopfdivision was originally formed with concentration camp guards but by 1943 most of those had been replaced with regular soldiers. Nevertheless, the division had a reputation for being ruthless because of its origins and certain War Crimes it was involved in earlier in the war.
3. I am no historian but I was already aware that such a unit had existed also of their “Death’s Head” insignia. I would call that “general knowledge” – like knowing what the “hammer and sickle” or the “stars and bars” signify. Of course “general knowledge” varies.
4. Personally, I am not offended by it because I lost no relatives in WWII nor do I belong to any of the groups which were included in the Final Solution. However, given that WWII is still within living memory then yes, this specific “logo” is not acceptable. It’s not big, it’s not clever and it’s not cool.
5. Most likely, the t-shirt designer did not use the image knowingly. However, that’s no excuse for Wal-Mart to keep the shirt on sale after the “mistake” has been pointed out to them. Maybe, whatever they claim, they just aren’t all that bothered about it.
Maybe 50 years from now the “Death’s Head” insignia will have lost any cultural significance – it will just be a symbol from history. Until then I’m keeping my t-shirt in a bottom drawer.
plopculture.plopculture.com
/ May 21, 2007though i am against all nazi iconography used in modern apparel, most the time artists don’t even realize what they are using. in that case, all those west coast choppers shirts with the iron cross should have been pulled…good work though!
plopculture.blogspot.com
Tristan
/ June 3, 2007The Nazi punk thing started in 1978, which is what started the Nazi skinhead movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_punk
The Nazi skinheads is who they market this stuff to. Wallmart is right on the mark with “since 1978″ Apparently they know their Nazis very well.
See my blog at raumfahrer.wordpress.com
Tristan
/ June 5, 2007I was in Ensenada Mexico recently. I walked into a curio shop and there were flags hanging from the ceiling that looked very much like the Nazi marine battle flag swastikas on it and something that was supposed to be Ku Klux Klan flag with celtic crosses (a white power sign) on it. They also had Totenkopf ash trays and other items such as that. They had a poster of the popular German band Rammstein in the front display, which often use Nazi symbolism in there performances. I’m assuming they sell the stuff to american kids that can’t get it in the US, but Rammstein is also very popular in Mexico. There seems to be a trend among kids to buy Nazi stuff and especially among kids that are fans of bands like Rammstein.
Dustin Underwood
/ October 19, 2008Let wal-mart sell whatever they want to.Or dont you belive in the first amendment.If this post gets pulled,you probably dont.
Jürgen
/ January 30, 2009I just ordered a case of those shirts.
I only wish I could wear them all at once.
Like the previous post states: 1st Amendment.
If Walmart doesn’t like Jews, well that’s there business.
Again:If you don’t like what Walmart is selling ..don’t shop there.
Balzi
/ April 10, 2009Why do you give a shit? First of all, if the relationship to the SS was intended, it only makes me laugh that they were so ignorant in their t shirt design. Second of all, in my opinion, the Nazi’s were the closest thing to god that ever existed. I wear Nazi iconography around all the time. I would not, however wear this shirt, because it is blasphemy. If you don’t agree with the Nazi’s beliefs, then don’t sport their imagery. If you don’t like people who do agree with the Nazi’s beliefs, do something about it. Everyone has the right to their opinions, and to express them. That’s why we’re proud to live in the US of A. If you don’t want Nazi followers to be able to wear swastikas and death heads, then why don’t we just burn the baseball caps of followers of The Colorado Avalanche?…
Rick
/ April 11, 2009@Balzi:
I’m going to take a guess and say that you are real popular with the ladies. Am I wrong?
lorne
/ June 8, 2009I think then we should boycott Walmart
lorne
/ June 8, 2009Yes everyone has there right to their opinion but when that means killing people because of your beliefs that is racist
and as for your belief that the nazis did not kill Jews, your mistaken because all the names are written down that the german pigs killed
It is my opinion that the nazis are a bunch of pigs and gutless assholes. just look at what the 12th panzer division did to the seven Canadians they shot them in cold blood without being able to defend themselves Fuck the germans. they dont even get the respect from me to capitalize their name
lee
/ June 24, 2009hmmmm ladies. do you mean the gender that would gleefully say ”that ‘black boy’ looked at me.” Knowing full well that he would be lynched or at the very least badly beaten and jailed.? ooooooh surPRISE !!! women are prejudiced too ! who knew? And they can be downright spiteful too. good thing i came along in time with this info.
Lee B.
/ June 24, 2009The only thing goofier than the Nazi emblem is that the shirts were likely made is some 3rd world sweatshop by child labor, knowing WalMart. The best of all worlds, sigh.
tshirtHANKWILLIAMS
/ September 28, 2009More and more problems would come to you if you don?t try to find the cause of the problem but just solve it directly.
Swede
/ December 31, 2009You guys are funny..
SS where heroes not killers.. It is the so callet victors that teaches people that.
Soon they will get the respect they actually deserves.. Dirty allies who destroyed europe.
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