Macabre Photos Disgrace German Military

Der Spiegel ^ | 2006-10-25

[cartan]

Five photos threaten to stain the German military's reputation just as the country debates its role in international security operations. The images, showing German soldiers posing with a skull near Kabul, have sparked outrage from the government and may increase public reluctance to keep troops abroad.

The photos are unmistakably crass, ranging from a shot of a skull mounted over the headlight of a jeep to a close-up of a soldier holding his penis in his left hand and the skull next to it in his right. These are just two of five photos published Wednesday by the German daily Bild, showing members of German security forces in Afghanistan desecrating human remains evidently found while on patrol near Kabul. Two other photos show the skull affixed to a metal pole—a “cable cutter”—that extends vertically like a flag mast from the jeep's front bumper. Another shows a German soldier holding the skull and grinning.

[LexBaird]

Hey, at least they didn't put any panties on the skull.

[VOA]

If they were French soldiers, they would have surrendered to the skull.

The French have lost their "mojo" over the years.
IIRC, it was not uncommon for French posted to Indochina to send
home postcards of severed heads of rebellious plantation workers.
The examples I saw were from the tail-end of the 1800s and from
the early 1900s (I think).

[A_perfect_lady]

Oh spare me. You go to war. Scum tries to kill you. You kill the scum. You diminish the scum as people (like calling them scum) both as a coping mechanism and because they f***ing are scum. It's called war. Its not a game and it isn't played in a nice civilized western society. If you think you can do better then join the f*** up and show the world how civilized you are. Interesting but I have observed that those who squeal the most about brutality are usually the most unreasonably bloodthirsty when they get backed into a corner.

Freak out much?

[A_perfect_lady]

It's not the part about them holding skulls that makes me say "What is it about Germans," it's the part about one of them holding his penis in his other hand that makes me shake my head and wonder.

[Map Kernow]

I'll look for that book. Thanks. I'm a sap for history books and one good thing about that, history books are usually the first ones discounted. My wife and I were almost alone in the history section at our public library's annual old book sell-off. Three grocery bags full of history for $20.00!

Thanks for your kind and informative reply. If you like Dower's "War Without Mercy," I also recommend his later "Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II." If anything, how Japan adapted to defeat and occupation is even more fascinating---at least to yours truly---than the conduct of the war between Japan and the US.

[Map Kernow]

it's the part about one of them holding his penis in his other hand that makes me shake my head and wonder.

It's a "guy thing," Lady. You don't want to understand... ;)

[monday]

"It's not the part about them holding skulls that makes me say "What is it about Germans," it's the part about one of them holding his penis in his other hand that makes me shake my head and wonder."

Yeah, I thought that weird too, but is it any weirder than US soldiers playing with naked prisoners and taking pictures of themselves with hooded naked prisoners? Perhaps they are all homosexuals, who knows?

[monday]

"It's a "guy thing," Lady. You don't want to understand... ;)"

Hey, I am a guy, and I don't understand. Please. Explain! You think thats normal?

[Map Kernow]

Hey, I am a guy, and I don't understand. Please. Explain! You think thats normal?

Did I say it was "normal"? I was joshing a little with someone who made an apt and lady-like objection when you butted in. If my emoticon at the end didn't give that away, I'm not sure how else to reach you. Get a sense of humor.

[Salamander]

*grooooooan!*.....;D

[monday]

"Did I say it was "normal"?

You said it was a "guy" thing. Guy's are normal. I understand you were joking, but you do seem to understand what it was about, so I am just curious. What was it about? I honestly have no clue despite being a guy. My best guess is that guys who want to, um... *uck everything, skulls, male prisoners, etc. are gay. Is that right or no?