Nazi Memorabilia Found At Chiswick School Car Boot Sale

PTA to take action following complaint about 'inappropriate' items being sold

A Nazi sign offered at Chiswick Car Boot Sale. Picture: Cecile Ruhe

The Chiswick School PTA has said it will be making it clear that anyone taking part in its car-boot sales will not be allowed to sell "inappropriate" items such as the Nazi memorabilia spotted on sale recently.

Several items decorated with swastikas were on display at the Chiswick school sale, which is held on the first Sunday of each month and is in aid of the school’s parent teacher association (PTA).

Cecile Ruhe, who photographed some of the items said she was shocked to find Nazi memorabilia at a school sale. Ruhe, who has lived in the area for 25 years, said she visited the sale regularly but had never noticed this type of merchandise on sale before. They were at four stalls in the 6 November.

More Nazi Memorabilia at the Boot Sale. Picture: Cecile Ruhe

A spokeswoman for the PTA told the Evening Standard: “A seller has contacted us to report the stall. This stall is unknown to us and as reported would certainly be inappropriate for any car boot, school-based or not.

“We have never encountered this before and will be amending our website and flyers to reflect our views. I have informed the lady who raised the issue that this is the action that we would be taking.”

Malcolm Fisher, an expert in war memorabilia, told the Guardian that at least some of the items appeared to be originals.

He said Nazi memorabilia sometimes surfaced during house clearances but it was unusual for several stalls to be selling such items at the same sale.

The items in the photos included a medal honouring those who participated in the 1923 Munich putsch, a submariners’ brigade medal, and a medal for the Germanische order, awarded by the SS to foreigners who followed the organisation’s ideals. Mr. Fisher said he believed these were replicas.

Another photo showed an enamel plaque for the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, the organisation that replaced unions. This appeared to be genuine, according to Fisher.

A third photo showed an eagle and swastika item that was once used as a pole top, he said. “Either it’s genuine or they’ve aged it up by burying it underground.”

November 16, 2016