# What to do with a "touchy" piece of German WW2 memorabilia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253 "2010-01-01T03:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/21 "2010-01-01T12:30:09Z")
> [@teletype](#): > > Let it be known that I am a rational person (OK that’s debatable but not with regard to this!) and hence am NOT a Nazi. The only reason I can currently see to keep this is for your grandfather’s sake, which is a sentimental reason. Since you are a rational person and feel very uncomfortable having it in the house because of the implications, I would get rid off it. The only way to make money I can see would be Neo-Nazis of some type or other, which you apparently (correctly, of course) don’t want. So either give it to a museum or destroy it, grandfather or not. That’s what I would see as rational. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/22 "2010-01-01T12:51:08Z")
Find a VFW Use this: [http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.levelc&cid=4217](http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.levelc&cid=4217) It will most likely end up in a museum somewhere if you talk to the VFW, but it won’t end up with the neo-nazis and there’s a possibility you might make a buck. More importantly, it will end up in a museum. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/23 "2010-01-01T12:53:29Z")
I hear Marilyn Manson is a fan of collecting Nazi memorabilia. You should get in touch with him. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/24 "2010-01-01T13:43:39Z")
Donate it to a museum. Many states have their own State War Museum. Ask you State Representative about it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/25 "2010-01-01T13:51:59Z")
So Quasi, could you say that you got pawned? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/26 "2010-01-01T13:52:42Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > **Oakie!!!** :):)🙂 > > I SAW a couple of episodes of those guys, and you’re absolutely right!🙂 > > Hasn’t anyone ever _wondered_ why some pawn shops have signs with _three_ balls hanging from them???🙂 Don’t tell me one of them is meant to be Hitler’s? Well, you live and learn! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/27 "2010-01-01T14:03:48Z")
I understand your dilemma, I had some similar Nazi trophies brought back by my uncle. I didn’t want them in the house, but I didn’t want to just sell them because I didn’t want them winding up in the hands of neo-Nazis. Donation to a museum with a tax write-off seemed the best approach to me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/28 "2010-01-01T14:16:13Z")
Those large flags are _extremely_ common and worth way less than what you would think. Perhaps $100 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Jump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@Jump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jump)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/29 "2010-01-01T15:50:19Z")
Say you’re gonna sell it, you obviously wanna make as much money as possible, who what does it matter it current day skin heads buy it? I’ve sold a bunch of stuff on eBaY and I dont know anything about my buyers except their username. Due to the number of sales I’ve had, I’ve probably sold to rapists, murderers or child molesters… but I’m not looking for a moral high ground, I’m trying to sell a product. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/30 "2010-01-01T16:43:29Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Those large flags are _extremely_ common and worth way less than what you would think. Perhaps $100 or so. My father was a Major in WWII and also had a bunch of Nazi booty. I still have a Leica camera used for taking aerial shots. My little brother has (or had, I don’t know if he still has it) the big and little flags, swords and lugers etc. This stuff is everywhere. If you intend on keeping it you might want to get some tips on storage as fabric can be damaged by improper storage. I once sold an Iron Trivet manufactured in the 30’s or 40’s that had the Confederate creed in latin on it “death to traitors” or something. Got a good dollar for that on ebay (paid 5 sold for 20). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/31 "2010-01-01T19:05:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Unless you’re in Germany (which has strict anti-Nazi laws) actually owning it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m assuming you’re in the U.S., so owning it is perfectly legal and protected by the First Amendment. Not for me. It’s illegal for me to own a Nazi flag. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/32 "2010-01-01T19:17:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Not for me. It’s illegal for me to own a Nazi flag. Your location lists your address as being in the US. Is this no longer the case? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/33 "2010-01-01T19:25:11Z")
He is a Prison Warden, so I suppose that comes into it. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/34 "2010-01-01T19:39:33Z")
If you donate it to a museum and you want a tax write off you’ll have to get it appraised yourself by a third party. Museum staff are not ethically permitted to put a monetary value on donated artifacts though it’s possible to find some that can authenticate the item for you. There are several advantages to donating the item to a museum. #1. The museum will have the storage facilities to preserve the artifact for many years. #2. Your name, the name of your grandfather, and how he came into possession of the flag will be recorded and attached -not physically- to the artifact in perpetuity. #3. You will be helping a museum by adding something valuable and unique to their collection. ``` One big problem is that the flag is huge and many museum's may not be able to display safely. Which means that it wouldn't be on display. That's okay. We have things at our museum that will never go on public display for a variety of reasons. ``` Odesio ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/35 "2010-01-01T19:57:29Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > He is a Prison Warden, so I suppose that comes into it. I an readily imagine it might not be good form for a US prison warden to own Nazi memorabilia but _illegal_? Is he prevented from owning Confederate Civil War memorabilia as well? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/36 "2010-01-01T19:59:17Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > If I was you, I’d frame the damn thing & add a small plaque telling how & when your grandfather acquired it. Gonna be a big frame. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/37 "2010-01-01T20:08:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Not for me. It’s illegal for me to own a Nazi flag. I too am curious why it is only illegal for you and nobody else. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/38 "2010-01-01T20:38:10Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I too am curious why it is only illegal for you and nobody else. Condition of employment. He likely has a clause that states he cannot belong to any hate based groups or something along those lines. The police officers I know here in California fall under this, as do I as a servicemember in the US Navy. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/39 "2010-01-01T20:41:41Z")
**teletype** , there is nothing wrong with keeping the flag. Document the story behind it; your grandfather’s service, and his capturing of the flag. People who know you will understand that you are not sympathetic to Nazi ideals. If it is in storage, not on display, it is nothing to fret about. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253/40 "2010-01-01T20:44:16Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Condition of employment. > > He likely has a clause that states he cannot belong to any hate based groups or something along those lines. The police officers I know here in California fall under this, as do I as a service member in the US Navy. Are Civil War Confederate collectible items considered “hate group” memorabilia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-touchy-piece-of-german-ww2-memorabilia/523253.md?page=3)