On February 14-15th, 2023, Russian-language Facebook accounts published a photo of a statement written in German (1,2,3,4,5). The statement bears the logo of the German Ministry of Defense and warns Ukrainian servicemen arriving in Germany about the law prohibiting the public display of fascist symbols. The telegram channel @infantmilirario is mentioned in several photos of the announcement. Identical information was published on this Telegram channel on February 13th.
The claim that the German Ministry of Defense warns the Ukrainian servicemen who have arrived in Germany about the law prohibiting the display of fascist symbols is false. “Myth Detector” contacted the German Ministry of Defense. The spokesman for the Special Training Command confirmed that the disseminated statement has no connection with official German agencies.
“Myth Detector” contacted the German Ministry of Defense to verify the viral information. The spokesman for the Special Training Command, Martin Suendermann, confirmed in correspondence with “Myth Detector” that the disseminated statement has no connection with official German agencies.
Suendermann: “we are aware of the pictures distributed online, which allegedly show official notices in German as well as in English. However, they do not originate from the Bundeswehr or the Special Training Command led by the Bundeswehr for training Ukrainian soldiers in Germany within the framework of the EU mission EUMAM UA.”
The display of swastika and other Nazi symbols in public is a criminal offence in Germany. The public show and sale of the swastika and other SS symbols are prohibited in the country, as well as the Nazi salute and shouting “Heil Hitler!” Exceptions are allowed for the use of Nazi symbols in publications for educational and scientific purposes and the use of Nazi symbols in critical works of art. Posting Nazi symbols on social networks is also prohibited in the country. For displaying Nazi symbols in public, a person may be imprisoned for up to three years, and in case the act incites hatred towards specific groups, the punishment is up to 5 years in prison. Holocaust denial is also prohibited in Germany.
EUMAM UA Mission
After November 2022, in order to support Ukraine in the war against Russia, the Ukrainian military is undergoing special military training in the EU countries within the EUMAM UA mission. The multinational program is led by the Bundeswehr.
Since January 2023, Ukrainian soldiers have been mastering the use of the Patriot air defence system. Currently, the main focus is on training in the use of Leopard 2 tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Within the framework of the program, the Ukrainian military has already mastered the use of self-propelled artillery installations of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 type and the MARS II/MLRS-E salvo fire reactive system. Ukrainian military doctors and engineers also undergo special training in Germany. In addition to the European Union, the US and Great Britain also conduct training programs for the Ukrainian military.
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