General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,944 posts)

22. That some people do not recognize a symbol does not change the historical fact of the symbol.

Sat Jun 6, 2026, 01:51 PM

Saturday

Just because someone had parents who were in occupied Europe doesn't mean they know the same things as their parents. If you could ask their parents you would probably get a different answer.

I can easily find a dozen non-historians who would immediately recognize the Nazi Totenkopf.

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Cha MorbidButterflyTat

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Highlight:

What, exactly, makes Platner's skull and crossbones Nazi? [View all] LAS14 Saturday OP

Well, it has been tattooed over now, so I can't see it. MineralMan Saturday #1

A marine who served with GP FalloutShelter Saturday #2

Collins klanners DoBW Saturday #12

I've seen claims about Susan Collins, but full information is not available karynnj Saturday #13

The SS totenkopf looks different than a typical pirate "skull and bones." WhiskeyGrinder Saturday #3

Better pic SocialDemocrat61 Saturday #6

Everyone I've asked (we're all over 60) didn't recognize it as SS mainer Saturday #4

It could well be that the self-described "military buff" accidently had a Nazi tattoo for 20 years lapucelle Saturday #10

Excellent post, lapuelle... Mahalo!! Just the Facts. Cha Saturday #64

Great post LetMyPeopleVote 18 hrs ago #68

It's bewildering that Platner told CNN that he has never been "close to money" given his personal biography. lapucelle 17 hrs ago #69

Many thanks. Indeed it could be any one or all of those things. QueerDuck 9 hrs ago #71

This message was self-deleted by its author lapucelle Saturday #11

Someone's done their oppo research... AloeVera Saturday #33

It was a dupe. N/T lapucelle Saturday #49

That some people do not recognize a symbol does not change the historical fact of the symbol. sarisataka Saturday #22

But if the person with the tatoo did not recognize it as a historical symbol, that's super relevant. nt LAS14 Saturday #51

Yes. Certain images are recognizably Nazi-based... regnaD kciN Saturday #66

What makes the design Nazi is that the SS used this design as their insignia lapucelle Saturday #5

Hey everybody, he's topless! What a naughty man. GreenWave Saturday #29

Thanks for showing the Difference so Vividly.. Cha Saturday #65

The tattoo looks like the State of Ohio now, Emile Saturday #7

The molehill is the tattoo. The mountain is ... QueerDuck 8 hrs ago #72

I can see two young marines in a different country that are a little bit drunk or tipsy oldmanlynn Saturday #8

I can too....but having it for almost 20 years without knowing what it was I believe less..ymmv EX500rider Saturday #15

It's not like he's running on the resurgence of the Nazi party oldmanlynn Saturday #18

I am concerned if he knew what it was and then flat out lied that he did, that speaks to character IMO EX500rider Saturday #19

Is it The Bopper 10 hrs ago #70

He didn't have a jolly rogers tattoo lol WarGamer Saturday #9

Do you believe he knew that? Scrivener7 Saturday #54

Be cause it was a Nazi tattoo? EX500rider Saturday #14

Ewww MorbidButterflyTat Saturday #42

And who takes their shirt off at an indoor party anyway? EX500rider Saturday #43

I thought the same thing. MorbidButterflyTat Saturday #67

The Maltese cross is often confused with the Nazi Iron Cross too. Emile Saturday #16

No, It Is Not. EVER. THERE IS NO RESEMBLANCE. ColoringFool Saturday #57

Both crosses share a similar cross pattee Emile Saturday #59

as a kid I remember seeing it on cheap belt buckles and rings in Johnson Smith Catalog eShirl Saturday #17

That is a skull & cross bones, the Totenkopf has the bones behind the skull EX500rider Saturday #20

Do you have your answer? sarisataka Saturday #21

Yup! It's clear that most people would not recognize it as Nazi. nt LAS14 Saturday #35

It seems a pretty even split. sarisataka Saturday #36

Except that's not the question you asked EdmondDantes_ Saturday #38

The thread has gone astray. My post here was not relevant to my OP. nt LAS14 Saturday #52

The person you responded to asked if you had your answer EdmondDantes_ Saturday #58

As an amateur radio operator... orangecrush Saturday #23

It's overblown SamuelTheThird Saturday #24

Besides the tattoo in question Mossfern Saturday #25

Doesn't make him a pirate? no_hypocrisy Saturday #26

The Totenkopf RandySF Saturday #27

The tattoo really pesters me LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #28

The totenkopf tattoo is a NAZI symbol LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #30

What, exactly, makes Platner's skull and crossbones Nazi? -misanthroptimist Saturday #31

The fact that it was the official emblem of the Nazi SS death camp guards? EX500rider Saturday #44

Great. Is that the only place in history it appears? -misanthroptimist Saturday #45

Totenkoph is German meaning Deaths Head. It was the official symbol of the Nazi SS. LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #32

the skull and bones have been a potent human motif... mike_c Saturday #34

All the Nazis that used to wear it on their uniform? meadowlander Saturday #37

Is this a Nazi symbol Emile Saturday #61

Yes, it's an iron cross which was worn on Nazi uniforms. Is it exclusively a Nazi symbol? No. meadowlander Saturday #62

It's a Maltese Cross. I should know, Emile Saturday #63

Most 20 yr olds would not have a clue. Blue Full Moon Saturday #39

He Knew. Of Course, Maybe The Tattoo Artist Was A Republican Who..... ColoringFool Saturday #40

All of this BS is just republican smear campaign Blue Full Moon Saturday #41

A smear campaign would be claiming he had a Nazi tattoo when he didn't. LisaL Saturday #46

Nope they get other people to believe it Blue Full Moon Saturday #60

The range of motivations of those who would adopt that symbol... BH liberal Saturday #47

no he doesn't still have it, he had a celtic dog design tattooed over it, covering it up eShirl Saturday #55

This is the most non issue of non issues. Initech Saturday #48

The mentality of a guy... BH liberal Saturday #50

I don't know, but..... YepYep Saturday #53

If I May Hazard A Wild Guess? The NAZIS!....... ColoringFool Saturday #56