Nazi-Era Items Still Available on Australian Online Marketplaces

Three years after the Australian federal government outlawed the display and trade of Nazi symbols, online sellers continue to list items that bear the swastika and the SS double-sig rune. Investigations identified dozens of listings from dealers such as Kurt Coleman Military Antiques in Queensland, which offered 25 pages of Nazi-era helmets, badges, medals, officer’s caps, a porcelain vase embossed with a Nazi eagle ($2,500) and a 2 m × 3.5 m warship flag ($2,000). An eBay storefront operating since 2019 has recorded roughly 44,000 sales of German war-related items, many of which display prohibited symbols.

The Guardian

In 2023 the federal government amended the Criminal Code to criminalise the public display and trade of items featuring the Nazi Hakenkreuz or the SS double-sig rune. The legislation mirrors earlier state bans and includes exemptions for religious, academic, educational, artistic, literary or scientific purposes, provided the items are not used to promote extremist ideology.

The Guardian

Sellers argue their inventories fall within the educational exemption. He cited his 37-year army career as qualification to interpret the law. A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police confirmed the agency has engaged auction houses about prohibited-symbol sales but declined to comment on ongoing investigations, urging the public to be aware of legal obligations.

The Guardian

Associate professor Romain Fathi, a military historian at the Australian National University, warned that militaria are “not neutral” and that the same object can acquire vastly different meanings depending on who holds it. He cautioned that “collecting militaria becomes more problematic when there’s a real attraction for war, for violence,” especially when items are linked to a regime defined by mass death.

The Guardian

• “Nazi Militaria For Sale, German Militaria, WW2 Militaria, Nazi Medals Australia” — Nazi Militaria

The Guardian

• “As stated in my disclaimer on my website I trade in these items without displaying the banned symbols and my intent is to trade in them within the allowed scope,” — Henry Fijolek

The Guardian

• “The same object can have vastly different meanings based on the hand that is holding it, and the motivations of keeping the objects,” — Romain Fathi, associate professor

The Guardian

• “Collecting militaria becomes more problematic when there’s a real attraction for war, for violence,” — Romain Fathi, associate professor

The Guardian