Lost in all the fervor over the photo depicting Toledo businessman Rich Iott in a "Nazi costume" is one fact: nowhere on the uniform he is shown to be wearing is the dreaded symbol of Adolf Hitler's once-powerful and chilling Third Reich -- the swastika.
In fact, take a look at the image creating all the controversy. I'd be willing to guess that unless someone pointed it out, many people might be unaware that it was a Nazi Waffen SS uniform.
I've looked at this from a variety of perspectives, and from all of them -- once I gleaned all the facts -- I could only conclude one thing: this is a non-story. It was clearly manufactured by a worried Democratic incumbent only to be eagerly gobbled up by a hypersensitive politically correct liberal media. HBO's super left-wing political pundit Bill Maher was apparently the first to "break" the story on his show (although it actually was the ultra left-wing magazine, The Atlantic, which was spoon-fed the photo by the Dems and ran with only one side of the story). While it may seem to have all the sexy attributes of a scandal at first blush, a deeper look at the banal facts reveal it to be nothing more than a red herring.
It may surprise some people to learn that I am actually Jewish. I always have been. The heritage comes from my mother's side, and I can remember my maternal grandmother telling me stories of how members of our family back in Poland were cast into gas chambers. I am fully aware of the horror the Nazis perpetrated in World War II, so, while I "ought" to be outraged to learn that a U.S. Congressional candidate would dare don himself in the garb of the Germans, I'm not.
This is probably because I lived for a while in York County, and worked as a cub reporter in a town called "Hanover," which is a few miles away from the historic Gettysburg battlefields. I covered quite a few Civil War reenactments in my time (it's tough to write in that area and not cover Civil War reenactments), and I understand that no reenactment can be pulled off without reenactors from both sides of the conflict. So, for World War II reenactments, it would be necessary for a set of reenactors to clothe themselves in the garb of the Germans -- since their army was so important to the axis power.
So, as a Jew who understands the educational importance of never forgetting what happened in the Holocaust seven decades ago, I can no more be angry at Iott than I can be angry at the reenactors portraying Confederate soldiers in the Gettysburg reenactments. Should I be angry at them? I am, after all, a Northerner.
Doesn't make much sense, does it?
In fact, I've always found myself rather grateful that there are people willing to portray the losers of these wars. It can't be easy to go act out these battles in front of crowds that are often very partisan. But just as every plot has its antagonist, so must these recreated spectacles. It's important to note that in virtually every World War II reenactment, Nazi salutes and decorative swastikas are both off-limits, precisely because they might offend some members of the crowd.
It's no surprise to me that the story began to die down as soon as Iott explained that he has a great appreciation for world history and that the costume was worn during reenactments. What is surprising, however, is that in Ohio, the ploy may be backfiring for the Democrats attempting to perpetrate the smear campaign against Iott.
Many prominent local Jews have emerged to side with Iott, as have many prominent local leaders. Nevertheless, Iott was in the crossfire on CNN this morning, being grilled for his reenactment hobby, yet doing a great job of pointing out how the controversy has managed to distract voters from the issues Iott's opponent, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, wants to avoid; namely her votes in favor of TARP, the stimulus package and every other initiative forwarded by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama.
While most polls have Kaptur solidly ahead, Iott claims internal polls put him within five points of knocking the longest serving woman in the U.S. House of Representatives out of office. Whether his polling is accurate remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure, though; Iott is now the subject of national headlines, and for Ohioans who know better, all this attention may very well help him close the gap.
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Comments
Hi Justin –
By and large, I agree with you. When the re-enactors at the Polish National Alliance, near me, do the siege of Warsaw, there are German Army re-enactors. One difference. They are Wehrmacht, not SS.
“I’d be willing to guess that unless someone pointed it out, many people might be unaware that it was a Nazi Waffen SS uniform”
Let me give you a hint. When I lived in the Germantown neighborhood of Chicago, in the apartment beneath was Omma. Oppa had died. He had been a lieutenant in the SS. After his death, Omma had taken a felt pen and carefully blacked out the ‘SS’ from all of Oppas’ military pictures.
No, I don’t think that too many people missed the fact that this was an SS uniform. That was the problem. You might want to acqaint yourself with the history of the SS. After that, you might want to delete this post.
“I don’t think that too many people missed the fact that this was an SS uniform.”
Sorry, RT. I totally disagree with your characterization of the big giant obvious glaring fact that it was an SS uniform as opposed to a Wermacht uniform.
Before I wrote this post, I ran it past five different people who hadn’t heard of the so-called “scandal.” A small sample, I realize, but if it matters to you, two were Democrats. All of these folks were average people. Intelligent people. About as plugged in to politics as most people I know. Two guessed correctly that it was a German uniform (one Dem, one GOP). Neither were aware it was SS. One told me he thought it was a German “officer’s” uniform (the GOP). I asked them if they were familiar with the SS. All of them were. All five told me they believed the SS uniforms were black, not gray. One believed it was a Russian uniform, one thought it was a French uniform. The other wasn’t sure, but knew it was “foreign.” And “from World War II.”
That said, all of the people I spoke with were between the ages of 30 and 65. None of them had been in WWII, or were very old when the Great War had occurred, so that probably colored the outcome. Although mine was a small sample, I stand by my statement.
I don’t think I’ll delete this post. I don’t do that. But if you want me to remove that line from your comment, no problem.
“You might want to acqaint [sic] yourself with the history of the SS.”
I’m quite familiar with the atrocities committed by the SS, thank you.
For the record, everyone I asked thought the omission of the reenactment aspect of the story from many of the liberal blogs was egregious. Even the Dems. None of them thought the image was a big deal when I first showed them the picture. After I explained the details to them, not a single one of them thought it was enough to make or break a campaign. After learning the whole story, one of the Dems said, “That guy’s probably kicking himself for being in the group, but he shouldn’t be beaten up for it. It’s not like he’s a Nazi.”
“a worried Democratic incumbent”? Are you kidding? Rich Iott has never been a serious threat to Marcy Kaptur. And why do you have to “conclude” anything? Why don’t you ask the Atlantic if the photos came from Marcy? Why cast blame when you’re in no position to know? You’re sounding a lot like Mr. Iott.
Hi Justin –
Okay. Let me try again. Here are your words:
“Lost in all the fervor over the photo depicting Toledo businessman Rich Iott in a “Nazi costume” is one fact: nowhere on the uniform he is shown to be wearing is the dreaded symbol of Adolf Hitler’s once-powerful and chilling Third Reich — the swastika.
In fact, take a look at the image creating all the controversy. I’d be willing to guess that unless someone pointed it out, many people might be unaware that it was a Nazi Waffen SS uniform.”
I read that as, ‘He wasn’t wearing a swastika. Just the uniform of the police force of the Nazi Party and Hitler’s personal body guard’. I don’t see this as mitigating. I’ll take a clarification if you have one.
FWIW, for most of the existence of the SS, you had to be a Nazi Party member and of good Aryan stock to be in the SS.
“All five told me they believed the SS uniforms were black, not gray. ”
They were. That’s a Wehrmacht uniform with SS epaulets. You can see the ‘SS’ quite clearly in other photos. That might be authentic, but I kinda doubt it. The SS was never integrated into the Wehrmacht. I doubt that would have ever been allowed to wear Wehrmacht uniforms.
>>“I don’t think that too many people missed the fact that this was an SS uniform.”
>Sorry, RT. I totally disagree with your characterization of the big giant obvious glaring fact that it was an SS uniform as opposed to a Wermacht uniform.
It could be. In your chosen picture, absolutely. FWIW, I read two other articles on this before I read your blog post. Both had ‘SS uniform’ in the headlines. The “SS” on the epaulets is quite clear in other photos. Here’s a photo, from the source that you mentioned:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/why-is-this-gop-house-candidate-dressed-as-a-nazi/64319/
I’d have absolutely no problem describing it as a ‘Nazi costume’.
// exceeded the 2000 word limit
>>You might want to acqaint [sic] yourself with the history of the SS.”
>I’m quite familiar with the atrocities committed by the SS, thank you.
Concentration camp guards, killers of helpless women and children, responsible for the slaughter of millions. So reviled that an old woman took a marker to pictures of her dead husband.
“I read that as, ‘He wasn’t wearing a swastika. Just the uniform of the police force of the Nazi Party and Hitler’s personal body guard’. I don’t see this as mitigating. I’ll take a clarification if you have one.”
You should try reading what I wrote rather than what you want to see. What kind of clarification are you looking for, RT? It might help if you explained your issue with what I actually wrote (not what you read into it) a little bit more clearly.
Nice red herring the Marcy Machine threw out there….and today an Iott placard has a swaztika painted on it….a few doors down from one of the Union thug halls that has bought her for decades. Wonder who did it?
Marcy is a nasty old woman (something I know from personal experience) who is a bully with a record she seems ashamed to discuss.
Yeah, she’ll win but it’s great to see her leave her throne to actually campaign.
As a German this whole discussion looks strange to me. We certainly have to distinguish between the SS and the Wehrmacht if we look at and evaluate the history. Very ordinary people were fighting in the Wehrmacht even convinced NAZI opponents like my grandpa especially in the last two years of WW2 (Volkssturm). SS members appeared to be convinced Nazis we believe in our days. But even there have been a significant number of uneducated people who joined because of the lack of other job opportunities not being aware what they join.
Whether a reenactor wears an SS- or a Wehrmacht uniform seems to be irrelevant though. Even though I appreciate Justin’s view I would describe Iott’s hobby as tasteless. The holocaust is unique in history. It is not comparable to Civil War or Roman crimes as bad as they might have been. The industrially manufactured killing of people has not been there anytime before in history. I also don’t see a lot of education there. Of all reenactments or even movies I have seen it just generates stereotypes of war-machine like Germans who lack any emotions. If people want to educate they should point out what made all this happen. What contributed to the success of the NSDAP? What early developments were overseen by the political powers of the time? .. many questions to be asked..
Actually the Nazi SS uniform does have a Swastika on it… It’s on his left sleeve but you cannot see it in the photos I’ve seen. But its there just do a web search about Waffen-SS uniforms.
On a side note, the SS runes are far more offensive as the individuals who were these were usually die hard Nazi party members unless foreign born volunteers.
They Allegemene-SS manned the Concentration camps, and Josef Mengele was members of both at various times.
Let’s see, this group DELIBERATELY picks out a Waffen SS unit named as a war crimes organization by the Nuremburg Trials and then calls the Nazis “idealists” and “emphasizes how the Wiking unit fought Bolshevist Communism.” A unit that took mainly Scandinavian volunteers (hence the “Viking”/Aryan overtones).
The same Wiking unit that had 3 documented instances of executing Jewish prisoners and also contained Josef Mengele.
If you’re going to portray noble losers, why not the 352nd Infantry or any other infantry division in the Wehrmacht? Why the Waffen SS?
BTW, did you see the Wiking recruitment video (since taken down)? Don’t be deliberately obtuse with what’s going on here.
No, we do not communicate well, do we?
Let me try again.
In the picture, the gentleman on the far right, pun intended, is wearing the pips of the regular German Army, the Wehrmacht. All three of the ‘German soldiers’ in the picture are wearing Wehrmacht uniforms. The two remaining German soldiers are wearing ‘SS’ pips.
Sans the SS pips, you could mistake the two reenactors as Wehrmacht soldiers. Properly done, the ‘SS soldiers’ should be in black, to remove any ambiguity. Although I imagine that there is not the market for black SS uniforms that there once was. At least, not yet.
Also, they should probably be wearing Iron Crosses about their necks. Once one of Germany’s highest decorations, Hitler gave them out by the bushel basket. It was said that the only way to avoid receiving an Iron Cross was to be killed. Opa had one. As did Heinz, in the apartment building.
I’m only guessing, but the Iron Cross might have been the ‘swastika’ that they were not wearing. Nominally, swastikas were worn on arm bands.
But I digress.
The fact that most people would not recognize the uniform is moot. Iott is on the roster of an SS reenactor division. He even has a reenactor name. IOW,”I just don’t want to play a regular Nazi. I want to play an SS Nazi!” It could have been worse. He might have wanted to play a Gestapo officer.
His intention was pretty clear. Iott didn’t just want to wear a German uniform. He didn’t just want to wear an Army uniform. He wanted to wear a Nazi uniform. He just got as close as he could.
What I found especially terrible is that the Atlantic had photos of Rich Iott in Union Civil War uniforms and American soldier uniforms from both World War I and World War II and refused to publish them – choosing only to publish the ones of him in a German uniform.
That deliberate choice shows that the article was nothing other than an intentional character assassination – and a well-orchestrated one at that, considering how quickly so many in the MSM picked up on it and perpetuated the distortion.
The desire to hold on to power in DC makes obviously has made people very desperate.
Manufactured by the democratic incumbent? Really? The picture is real, his participation with this group is real — how did they manage to “manufacture” that?!
The group he is involved with says very clearly on their website that they are “dedicated to presenting the history of the division” — yet NOWHERE on the site does it mention the Holocaust. That this SS group in particular participating in ethnic cleansing. Rather, the recruitment video portrays these men they are playing as heroes fighting for their homeland, fighting communism.
The website says this group of SS nazi collaborators “retained their pride in having given service above and beyond the call of duty.” Also says this “he kept the divsion a formidible and equally high-moralled fighting force to the last.”
High-moralled?!?!?!! REALLY!!!?!?!
I’m not saying that Iott is a Nazi. Heck, probably he isn’t. I hope not. But assuming he isn’t, he is clearly a total moron for being involved in a group that lauds the accomplishments and morals of a SS band of murderers.
So what is he, stupid or a bigot? Neither I would want to vote for, thanks.
The group he is involved with says very clearly on their website that they are “dedicated to presenting the history of the division” — yet NOWHERE on the site does it mention the Holocaust. That this SS group in particular participatied in ethnic cleansing. Rather, the recruitment video portrays these men they are playing as heroes fighting for their homeland, fighting communism.
The website says this group of SS nazi collaborators “retained their pride in having given service above and beyond the call of duty.” Also says this “he kept the division a formidible and equally high-moralled fighting force to the last.”
Retained their pride?!!?! High-moralled?!?!?!! REALLY!!!?!?!
I’m not saying that Iott is a Nazi. Heck, probably he isn’t. I hope not. But assuming he isn’t, he is clearly a total moron for being involved in a group that lauds the accomplishments and morals of a SS band of murderers.
Remember Mr. Quinn, Candidate Iott did not merely dress up as a German soldier, he dressed up as SS, and more importantly, joined an organization dedicated to honoring a unit of the SS.
You write as if this is “mere” costume behavior. It’s not. Iott doesn’t join an organization for every re-enactment he has ever done involving other military forces. However, in the case of the Nazi SS, he did a members-only organization with a proud, loud website declaring the honor of the Wiking SS unit. That’s what disturbs me.
The Wiking website has been cleaned up considerably since the story broke, but it’s quite obviously an organization of American re-enactors developed with the purpose of lauding the heroism of an SS unit. The website is a long bragsheet about how wonderful the SS are.
The fact that some Americans might not know the difference between SS and Wehrmacht is beside the point. It’s the guy who joins the organization with the overt mission of honoring the SS who should know the difference.
If Iott is the kind of guy who thinks the history of the SS is ignorable when he joins an organization dedicated to honoring an SS unit then he is either horrifically stupid or morally obtuse in the extreme. In neither case do we need to assume he actually has Nazi sympathies. He simply doesn’t think it mattered enough for him to know what the SS did, at the time he signed on to an organization honoring the Wiking SS unit.
That’s a very troubling approach to deciding what organizations to join, and hints at obtuse ways of deciding what votes to cast.
OMG, this is hallarious… yall actually bellieve a GOP candidate dressing up in Nazi millitary garb for the Hittliler “Viking” groups and went against their own countrymen (who were fighting the Nazi) to join the German fighters is a good thing.. LOL – sounds like Treason reenactments!
Next yall will say the Teabaggers should consider Maj. Nidal Hasan for a GOP candidate as he was only enacting Taliban military too (by killing soliders at FT. Hood)…. (even though he may not have been in the Arag garb) this is bizzar yall really say this!
Thoes Jews that embrace this guy have some real personal issues; it is no wonder why the KKK and so many others make comments that the Jews need to get over thinking they have been opressed!
Hi Justin –
“It’s important to note that in virtually every World War II reenactment, Nazi salutes and decorative swastikas are both off-limits, precisely because they might offend some members of the crowd.”
And no black uniforms, either. I kinda missed that, didn’t I? Duh.
“What kind of clarification are you looking for, RT? It might help if you explained your issue with what I actually wrote (not what you read into it) a little bit more clearly.”
Fair enough. What I hoped was that you really did not understand the Waffen-SS before you wrote your cringe-worthy post. IOW, possibly you thought they were just another German military unit. I’ve come to discover that my kindness was misplaced. You’ve ‘gleaned all the facts’ and are ‘quite familiar with the atrocities committed by the SS’. Okay. You understood what you were doing.
“You should try reading what I wrote rather than what you want to see.”
As you wish.
“In fact, I’ve always found myself rather grateful that there are people willing to portray the losers of these wars.”
I have an idea. Possibly you could find an outlet for that gratitude. Perhaps there is a reenactor Waffen-SS division near you. Possibly you could apply for membership. Just for kicks, carry a concealed camera. Preferably the same model as that used by Mr James O’Keefe. Surely, you wouldn’t have any problems. You’d be ubersturmgrupenfuhrer in no time. Hey, someone has to play the bad guy.
And I’m sure that your post was in no way influenced by partisan bias. I’m sure that your opinion would have been exactly the same if Iott had been a Democratic nominee for the House.
You apologist for the Waffen-SS, you.
“I don’t think I’ll delete this post. I don’t do that. But if you want me to remove that line from your comment, no problem.”
Thank you, no.
You know, RT, your comments in this last post are so incredibly disconnected, I’m not even sure what you’re talking about anymore. You still haven’t said what you want me to clarify.
Your assumption that everyone in the world knows as much about German military history as you do is mistaken. But it’s also beside the point, RT. This blog post isn’t about Germany. It’s about whether Iott is a Nazi, as others have portrayed him. You’ve gone so far away from the original topic you’re beginning to lap yourself. Maybe Iott knows as much about the SS as you do, but if that’s the case, it only proves he’s a military history buff. I believe someone else said Iott also was a reenactor for some other non-German military units. Would you be willing to enlighten us about his involvement in them and what that says about his devotion to the Nazi Party?
By the way, Iott only became involved in reenacting as a way to get closer to his son. He stopped reenacting three years ago, when his son lost interest.
“Perhaps there is a reenactor Waffen-SS division near you. Possibly you could apply for membership.”
I have a better idea, since you’re so into it, why don’t you do it? Be sure to send me the pics.
“You apologist for the Waffen-SS, you.”
How you equate me as an apologist for the SS, I’ll never know. I think you’ve got too much time on your hands, RT.
But, please, whatever you do, RT, keep coming back and posting. I appreciate every one of your page views.
Typical liberal tactic. They can’t argue the issues, so they throw stones by smearing someone personally so they can distract from their bankrupt ideals and socialist agenda. Toledo is a liberal stronghold with an established union and entitlement population what will continue to re-elect Marcy Kaptur until she dies in her congressional seat. What do you expect from a population that elected Carty Finkeiner THREE TIMES!! Google him, you won’t believe it. Toledo has constantly re elected this woman and seen there ecomony go down the toilet decade after decade. What do you call people who do the same thing over and over again and expect different results? I do believe thats the definition of insanity. Keep electing her and soon we’ll be considered a suburb of Perrysburg instead of the other way around.
Hi Justin –
“I appreciate every one of your page views.”
You are quite welcome. I’ve long believed that if you only communicate with people that agree with you, you’ll never learn anything new. I make a point of seeking out counter opinion.
“It’s about whether Iott is a Nazi, as others have portrayed him.”
Asked and answered, Justin. By the excellent post of Survivors Son above.
“If Iott is the kind of guy who thinks the history of the SS is ignorable when he joins an organization dedicated to honoring an SS unit then he is either horrifically stupid or morally obtuse in the extreme. In neither case do we need to assume he actually has Nazi sympathies. He simply doesn’t think it mattered enough for him to know what the SS did, at the time he signed on to an organization honoring the Wiking SS unit.”
I’m sorry, Justin. These goal posts cannot be moved.
“By the way, Iott only became involved in reenacting as a way to get closer to his son.”
That doesn’t make it better. See above.
>>“Perhaps there is a reenactor Waffen-SS division near you. Possibly you could apply for membership.”
>I have a better idea, since you’re so into it, why don’t you do it?
I am quite aware of the type of guys that join reenactor Waffen-SS units. Apparently, you do, too. BTW, it’s been done in fiction. “The Man in the Glass Booth” — a Holocaust survivor pretending to be …… an SS officer.
>>“You apologist for the Waffen-SS, you.”
>How you equate me as an apologist for the SS, I’ll never know.
FWIW, I wasn’t serious. I recalled the time that you referred to me as an ‘apologist for the Obama Administration’, with far less to go on. And you were serious.
” I think you’ve got too much time on your hands, RT.”
Quite true. I do the best that I can.
// exceeded the 2000 word limit
“You still haven’t said what you want me to clarify. ”
I have to be serious, now. You did clarify. You know what the Waffen-SS was. You know the type of guys that join reenactor Nazi groups. You’ve forced me to conclude that you have no idea how ridiculous your argument has been on this thread. When it comes to partisan issues, you are without a moral compass. I had sincerely wished otherwise.
I’ve known one Holocaust survivor in my lifetime. Without context, I now echo the final words that he ever said to me:
“Young man, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
“Young man, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Whatever it was, I’m sure it was well-deserved.
Is this really your line of defense, that his uniform doesn’t have a swastika and most people can’t tell a Heer uniform from an SS uniform? Sophisty. Iott is the history buff, he knows exactly what he affiliated himself with. There were over 300 divisions in the Germany national army, many of them famous. He could play at being 90th Light, Panzer Lehr, Grossdeutschland, 1st Fallschirmjager, but no, he wanted to play SS. Doesn’t make him a nazi, just a guy who fantasizes about being a nazi. I know you feel you have to defend every Republican, but come on, you set the bar way too low.
Slave Punishments
In December, 1940 Heinrich Himmler, head of the Schutzstaffel (SS), established the Waffen SS. This new army grew rapidly and within six months grew to over 150,000 men. By October 1944 the Waffen SS had grown to over 910,000 men.
The Waffen SS had a reputation for committing war crimes in occupied territory. At the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial a large number of its leaders were executed.
David Low, In Occupied Territory (10th July, 1942)