‘Seventy years is still too soon‘: Fashion retailer is accused of racism for selling a $70 ‘German Luftwaffe coat‘
A camping and army surplus store has garnered online backlash for advertising German Luftwaffe Coats in its catalogue
An user recently shared a picture of the trench coat for on sale for $69.95 in the Aussie Disposals catalogue with the caption ‘Dress like a Nazi!‘.
Viewers were quick to criticise the image.
‘70 years is still to soon,‘ one user wrote.
‘I went to uni with a guy who wore one of these whether it was two degrees or 45 degrees hot,‘ another added.
The coat is also advertised on the Aussie Disposals website with a product description.
‘The Luftwaffe was aerial warfare branch of the combined German military forces during World War II,‘ the description says.
‘During the interwar period, German pilots were trained secretly in violation of the treaty at Lipetsk Air Base. The Luftwaffe proved instrumental in the German victories across Poland and Western Europe in 1939 and 1940.‘
The two jackets for sale seem to be inspired by a more modern version of the Luftwaffe jacket, however, it‘s the World War Two Nazi era jacket that has attracted ire online.
‘Become part of history with this authentic German Luftwaffe Coat,‘ the ad reads.
Aussie Disposals have since taken down their original description of the jackets.
The Luftwaffe was formed in 1935 as the official name for the Nazi Air Force and was led by Nazi Hermann Goering.
The word Luftwaffe is a standard German term for Air Force and is still the title used for the modern German Air Force.
The Aussie Disposals head office could not be immediately reached for comment at this time.
WHAT WAS THE LUFTWAFFE?
The German Luftwaffe was officially formed in May 1935 as the official air force of Nazi Germany.
The formation came after post World War One sanctions on Germany‘s armed forces were lifted.
The word ‘Luftwaffe‘ is a standard German term for Air Force.
The World War Two Luftwaffe was led by notorious Nazi Hermann Goering.
That era‘s Luftwaffe was officially disbanded in August of 1946 by the Allied Control Commission.
Today‘s German Air Force is still called the Luftwaffe.
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