About Ulfhednar (continued)

[authun]

And we must disagree on the resemblance of the flags - the example that you show is not like the Ulfhednar flag - the predominant colour is red - the Ulfhednar flag is black and the symbolism is different. I really don't know why you show the Danish, Schalburg Korps flag at all. My original point still stands - the Ulfhednar flag is based on Roman prototypes.
However, I do recognise and have already stated that sensitivities regarding the swastika are comparatively greater in Germany than in England and that caution is necessary. However, most of the swastika forms used by Ulfhednar --(in fact all )-- are not the same types as the nazis used.

Hi Paul,
It's not our opinions on the stylistic differences or how these should be interpreted that matters. It's what the perception is that is important and the trouble that might cause. There's a row in Israel every time an orchestra wants to play Wagner for example. As Robert says, some tact is called for.

Arian is quite capable of explaining himself. On this photo we see him being interviewed and presumably, explaining why the Ulfhednar flag and the Nazi flag are not the same. Click on the thumbnail on the right under Fotos zum Thema [url:l9hviw9f]http://chronico.de/erleben/menschenorte/0000489[/url]. The parallel has been drawn and, whether correctly or incorrectly, it needs to be addressed. You know yourself that in the UK re-enactors have to be very careful with knives, even though they are not actually illegal. Gangs of teenagers have nothing to do with what we do, but the day will come when we may suffer for their actions.

This is Stefan's point too. EXARC is the international organisation of Archaeological Open Air Museums and other facilities involved in Experimental Archaeology. They already make the statement:

EXARC is worried about examples like the German living history group Ulfhednar, who are internationally active. ... Already for a long time, Ulfhednar has stood out for their heavy use of symbols, which are else known from the Nazi Era of the 3rd Reich.
http://www.exarc.eu/about_us/history/index.html

EXARC do point out that other groups, such as Steffan's with a similar name do not cause any concern, but that particular message tends to get ignored when venues decide to play it safe and just steer clear of controversy.

You obviously feel the need to explain that Ulfhednar are not some sort of group of neo-nazi sympathisers. I haven't heard any member say anything political either. But, there are neo nazi groups who are impressed with Ulfhednar and describe Arian as 'our friend'
[link to websites removed by moderator]

Support from sites such as this is going to do much more damage than someone like Prof. Dr. Albrecht Jockenhövel's Mannheimer Erklärung. Arian's critics are not going to draw on what is written in a forum such as this but will draw on the sort of comments displayed on the Europa NS site. You made the point yourself that the man with the tatoo was not a member of Ulfhednar. It doesn't matter if people like him are attracted to their events. Any intellectual argument about the use symbols which are stylistically roman in origin are bound to be undone with comments such as 'we must help this man, circulate this... NOT on jew myspace, email to your friends....'. Ulfhednar's detractors are not as damging as their supporters.

best