Nazi artefacts featuring prohibited symbols are reportedly being sold openly online in Australia, three years after the federal government made such trade illegal. Vendors claim these sales are for “educational” or “research purposes.”
In 2023, the Australian government outlawed the display and trade of items bearing the Nazi Hakenkreuz (swastika) and the double-sig rune of the Schutzstaffel (SS). This followed similar laws in multiple states that banned the display of Nazi symbols and the performance of the Nazi salute. Exemptions were included in the laws for religious, academic, educational, artistic, literary, or scientific purposes.
Guardian Australia has identified Australian sellers of military antiques listing German military items, including helmets, badges, medals, and flags, which appear to be from the Nazi era and bear the Hakenkreuz or double-sig rune. One business, Kurt Coleman Military Antiques, had 25 pages of such items for sale on its website this week, including a porcelain vase with an embossed Nazi eagle for $2,500 and a Nazi warship battle flag for $2,000.
Another vendor, Henry’s Military Collectibles, based in Western Australia, also listed multiple German Nazi-era military items. The owner, Henry Fijolek, stated he believes he is operating within the law, trading items without displaying banned symbols and for historical value. The Australian federal police have engaged with auction houses regarding the sale and public display of items containing prohibited symbols, advising people to be aware of their legal obligations.