Nazi chic#Asia
{{Short description|Dress or play as Nazis for publicity}}
{{use dmy dates |date=July 2023}}
Nazi chic is the use of style, imagery, and paraphernalia in clothing and popular culture related to Nazi-era Germany, especially when used for taboo-breaking or shock value rather than out of genuine support of Nazism or Nazi ideology.
Its popularity began in the 1970s with the emergence of the heavy metal, punk, and glam rock movements: the Sex Pistols' first television appearance occurred with a person of their entourage wearing Nazi regalia.[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sex-pistols-punk-clash-b1962184.html "Anarchy in the UK: How the Sex Pistols’ snarling manifesto changed the face of punk"] The Independent. November 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2024. Nazi chic was later used in the fashion industry.{{Cite journal|last=Kidd|first=Laura K.|date=2011|title=Goose-Stepping Fashion: Nazi Inspiration|url=http://smu-facweb.smu.ca/~paideusis/volume5/F_v5_LauraKKidd.pdf|journal=Paideusis - Journal for Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Studies|volume=5}} The trend, while having originated in the Western culture, by the late 20th and early 21st century became particularly popular in Asia.{{Cite web|last=Manning|first=Charles|date=2015-02-13|title=Trendy Teens in Asia Are Dressing Up Like Nazis|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/news/a36490/nazi-chic-teens-asia/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Cosmopolitan|language=en-US}} Nazi chic also partly inspired some of the fashion of the leather subculture.{{Cite web |last=Maigné |first=Juliette |date=2018-06-21 |title=There's a Lot More to Being a Leatherman Than You'd Expect |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/theres-a-lot-more-to-being-a-leatherman-than-youd-expect/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Vice |language=en}}
Europe and United States
File:1C girl on Igromir 2008 (3012648326).jpg wearing Nazi-inspired fashion at IgroMir in Russia, 2008]]
In the surf culture of the 1950s and 1960s, "Surf Nazis" would experiment with Nazi aesthetics, such as swastikas and Nazi helmets, and sometimes paint swastikas on their surfboards. Their motivation was often anti-establishment rebelliousness, rather than genuine sympathy with the Nazis.{{Cite web|url=https://beachgrit.com/2017/09/nuanced-surf-nazis-were-some-fine-people/|title=Revealed: Surf Nazis were fine people!|date=September 2, 2017|website=BeachGrit}} American artist Ed Roth sold plastic Nazi stormtrooper helmets to surfers in the 1960s, and told Time magazine, "That Hitler really did a helluva public relations job for me."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/28/opinion/sunday/surf-racism.html|title=Opinion | The Long, Strange Tale of California's Surf Nazis|first=Daniel|last=Duane|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 28, 2019}} In the 1960s, some filmmakers looking for edgy and controversial ideas incorporated Nazi themes into their works for shock value, with the 1965 film Censored described as having "the dubious honour of being the very first skinflick to mix Nazis and naked women".{{Cite web|url=https://www.somethingweird.com/product_info.php?products_id=57392 |title=Somethingweird.com | Age Consent Form|website=www.somethingweird.com}}{{Unreliable-inline|date=June 2021}}
In the early 1970s, glam rock acts incorporated Nazi symbolism into their works, often for the shock value and outrageousness, or for comedic effect. Steve Priest, of the glam rock band The Sweet, wore a Nazi uniform and fake toothbrush moustache in a December 1973 live performance of "Block Buster!", on Top of the Pops.{{cite web |url=http://thesweetband.com/bio/steve-priest/ |title=Steve Priest | The Sweet |website=Thesweetband.com |access-date=8 October 2016 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807230959/https://thesweetband.com/bio/steve-priest/ |url-status=dead }} In the 1970s punk subculture, several items of clothing designed to shock and offend the Establishment became popular. Among these punk fashion items was a T-shirt displaying a Swastika, an upside-down crucifix and the word DESTROY– which was worn by Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, seen in the video for "Pretty Vacant". Rotten wore the swastika another time with a gesture that looked like a Nazi salute.{{cite web|url=http://www.accum.se/~samhain/summerofhate/punk.html |title=Punk and the Svastika |publisher=accum.se |access-date=1 July 2016 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321032935/http://www.accum.se/~samhain/summerofhate/punk.html |archive-date=21 March 2007 }} In 1976, Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees was also known to wear a Swastika armband with fetish S and M clothing, including fishnets and a whip. These musicians are commonly thought to have worn such clothing for shock value directed towards the British WWII generation rather than being genuinely associated with any National Socialist or fascist ideologies, and those with such interests likely became part of the Nazi punk or white power skinhead subcultures. However, the English classical composer, Cornelius Cardew, a Maoist, wrote a tract that called punk rock fascist.
In 1984, two T-shirt designs featuring Adolf Hitler were produced in West Germany.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5-toAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA367|title=Charting the Divide Between Common and Civil Law|first=Thomas|last=Lundmark|date=15 August 2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-987636-5|access-date=13 October 2018|via=Google Books}} The more famous of the two was the "Adolf Hitler European Tour" design, which featured a picture of Hitler against the backdrop of a map of Europe, with conquered territories shaded; A less popular T-shirt featured Hitler giving the Roman salute, and a yo-yo hanging from his hand. The text read "European yo-yo champion 1939-1945". Sale of the apparel led to a legal case in Germany, in an attempt to have it banned as "glorifying genocide".{{cite web|url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/global_law/german-cases/cases_bverg.shtml?03apr1990|title=UCL Laws : Institute of Global Law|access-date=13 October 2018|archive-date=14 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114165115/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/global_law/german-cases/cases_bverg.shtml?03apr1990|url-status=dead}} In 1988, Ralph Engelstad was criticized for a party he held at his Imperial Palace hotel-casino in Las Vegas featuring bartenders wearing the "European Tour" shirts.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19890503&id=STEyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4910,459971&hl=en|title=Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=13 October 2018}} In 1990, the ACLU represented a high school student on Long Island who was told to remove the shirt or face suspension by school officials who claimed the shirt was anti-semitic.{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/article/d78b2745d004cc918c556f0415f12786 |date=September 21, 1990 |url-status=live |title=ACLU Takes Up Case of Student Forced to Remove Hitler Shirt |website=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819182515/https://www.apnews.com/article/d78b2745d004cc918c556f0415f12786 |access-date=13 October 2018|archive-date=19 August 2022 }}
In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, Bryan Ferry, the English singer and musician, acknowledged that he calls his studio in west London his "Führerbunker". He was quoted as saying, "My God, the Nazis knew how to put themselves in the limelight and present themselves. ... Leni Riefenstahl's movies and Albert Speer's buildings and the mass parades and the flags - just amazing. Really beautiful."{{cite news|title=Bryan Ferry's Nazi Gaffe|newspaper=The Independent|last=Goodchild|first=Sophie|date=2007-04-15}}
English heavy metal and rock and roll musician Lemmy of the band Motörhead collected Nazi memorabilia and had an Iron Cross on his bass guitar, but stated that he collected these memorabilia for aesthetics, historical purposes and interests only. He considered himself "an atheist and an anarchist" and that he was "anti-communism, fascism, any extreme".{{cite web|title=damage case|url=http://www.motorhead.ru/art11damagecase.htm|work=Russian MOTÖRHEAD Home page|access-date=26 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526042049/http://www.motorhead.ru/art11damagecase.htm|archive-date=26 May 2012}}
In early 2005, a designer using the pseudonym "Helmut Doork"{{cite web|url=http://metzitzah.blogspot.com/2007/10/auschwitz-souvenir-t-shirt.html|title=Auschwitz Souvenir T-shirt|work=Metzitzah B’peh |access-date=13 October 2018}} began marketing a parody souvenir T-shirt with the slogans "My grandparents went to Auschwitz and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!" and "Arbeit Macht Frei."{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3336745,00.html|title=Auschwitz t-shirts for sale?| newspaper=Ynetnews |date=12 June 2006|access-date=13 October 2018| last1=Mozgovia | first1=Natasha }} In response to a complaint from the Anti-Defamation League, the design was removed from CafePress' website in late 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4936_52.htm |url-status=dead |title=Online Retailer Removes Auschwitz T-Shirts After ADL Voices Concern |access-date=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216012013/https://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4936_52.htm|archive-date=16 December 2006}}
The creator later uploaded it to Printfection. After Printfection removed it without explanation the creator then released it into the public domain, giving anyone permission to print and/or commercialize the design without permission.{{Cite web |title=My Grandparents Went to Auschwitz and all I got was this lousy t-shirt! |work=Metzitzah B’peh |date=31 May 2008 |access-date=22 February 2019 |url= http://metzitzah.blogspot.com/ }}
In 2005, Prince Harry was criticized for wearing a costume with a swastika armband{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4170083.stm |title=Harry says sorry for Nazi costume |work=BBC News |date=January 13, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2023 }} causing considerable embarrassment to his family. Harry's impromptu costume resembled the Afrika Korps, rather than more political units such as the SS. Writer Moyra Bremner commented on BBC News 24 that no one had stopped the prince wearing the costume.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4170623.stm |title=Harry public apology 'not needed' |work=BBC News |date=January 14, 2005 }}
Alternative hip hop group OFWGKTA uses the swastika symbol and makes references to Nazism in its lyrics.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-past-the-present-and_b_807734 |first=Yasi |last=Salek |access-date=18 July 2023 |title=The Past, the Present, and the Odd Future |work=Huffington Post |date=January 11, 2011 }} Nazi chic fashion can be seen in the music videos for Madonna's "Justify My Love" (1990), Marilyn Manson's "The Fight Song" (2001) and Lady Gaga's "LoveGame" (2009).{{cite magazine| url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/33523/1/nazi-chic-the-stylistic-legacy-of-the-night-porter| last=Hope Allwood| first=Emma| title=Nazi Chic: the stylistic legacy of The Night Porter| magazine=Dazed| date=October 31, 2016| access-date=April 9, 2018}}
Asia
File:Cosplay14 World Cosplay Summit.jpg at World Cosplay Summit in Shanghai, 2011]]
In Japan, World War II is not taught in schools as a battle of political ideologies, but as a conventional war. This type of education treats Hitler and the Nazi Party as charismatic and powerful leaders of countries during wartime, instead of war criminals as elsewhere.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Uniforms and other imagery related to Nazi Germany are sold in East and Southeast Asia, where some consider it fashionable.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Pop groups have dressed in SS-inspired uniforms.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Sometimes in East Asia, for example Japan, Nazi uniforms are used as part of cosplay.{{Cite web |last=Sasportas |first=Olivier |title=Le Nazi chic, la nouvelle mode qui fascine de jeunes Chinois |work=Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/le-nazi-chic-la-nouvelle-mode-qui-fascine-de-jeunes-chinois-34396-28-11-2011/ |access-date=2021-06-23 |trans-title=Nazi chic, the new fashion that fascinates young Chinese |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite journal |last=Jaworowicz-Zimny |first=Aleksandra |date=2019-01-02 |title=Nazi Cosplay in Japan |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17526272.2018.1427015 |journal=Journal of War & Culture Studies |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=37–52 |doi=10.1080/17526272.2018.1427015 |s2cid=165475524 |issn=1752-6272|url-access=subscription }} Several Japanese products have reused Nazi themes in their artwork, such as the 2010 card game Barbarossa,{{Cite web |title=Barbarossa |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/72809/barbarossa |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=BoardGameGeek |language=en-US}} described as the "softcore Nazi anime porn" with "anime Nazi girls".{{Cite web |last=tomreimann |date=2014-03-26 |title=4 Reasons This One Kickstarter Proves Humanity Is Doomed |url=https://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/4-reasons-this-one-kickstarter-proves-humanity-doomed |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=Cracked.com |language=en}} The game was successful enough to receive an English release in 2013{{Cite web |title=Anime-Based 'Barbarossa Deck Building Game' |url=https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/22684/anime-based-barbarossa-deck-building-game |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=icv2.com |language=en}} as well as a stand-alone sequel El Alamein{{Cite web |title=El Alamein|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/86167/el-alamein |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=BoardGameGeek |language=en-US}} (also released in English).{{Cite web |title=Anime-Style 'El Alamein' Deck Building Game |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/32561/anime-style-el-alamein-deck-building-game |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=icv2.com |language=en}} 2019 saw the release of video game Mein Waifu is the Fuhrer,{{Cite news |last=Feder |first=Shira |date=2019-08-05 |title=Inside the Nazi Anime Video Game That's Raised Over $50,000 on Kickstarter |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-nazi-anime-video-game-thats-raised-over-dollar50000-on-kickstarter |access-date=2021-06-23}} described as a "Nazi-themed anime dating simulator" and inspired by the Japanese art and the visual novel-type of game.{{Cite web|title=The worst Kickstarter projects of all time according to 2 podcasters who call out the most egregious|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/the-worst-kickstarter-projects-of-all-time-according-to-2-podcasters-who-call-out-the-most-egregious/slidelist/71674825.cms|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Business Insider}}
In South Korea, an area generally isolated from Nazi cultural influences during the Nazi era, Time magazine observed in 2000 "an unthinking fascination with the icons and imagery of the Third Reich."{{cite journal|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2000/0605/southkorea.trouble.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010129033200/http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2000/0605/southkorea.trouble.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2001|title="They Dressed Well" A troubling fascination with Third Reich regalia elevates the Nazi look to what's chic in South Korea |journal=Time Asia|date=2000-06-05 |access-date=2007-04-15|first=Donald|last=MacIntyre}}
In Indonesia, the SoldatenKaffee, a café featuring Nazi decoration and memorabilia closed in 2013 due to controversies and critiques by international media as well as death threats and hate mail to the owners. The SoldatenKaffee, however, reopened in 2014, the owner claimed that his establishment was never aimed to promote Nazi ideology explaining that Nazism was only seen from a historical perspective in Indonesia. The SoldatenKaffee closed again in 2017 due to moving elsewhere for lack of local demand.{{Cite web|date=2014-06-22|title=Nazi-themed café in Indonesia reopens — keeping the swastikas and|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/nazi-themed-cafe-indonesia-re-opens-keeping-swastikas-and-images-hitler-it-pledged-remove-9554643.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/nazi-themed-cafe-indonesia-re-opens-keeping-swastikas-and-images-hitler-it-pledged-remove-9554643.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-23|website=The Independent|language=en}}
There is an ongoing interest in Thailand in Nazi symbolism, particularly among young people. The fascination with such imagery is considered to be based on a lack of understanding of the Holocaust rather than political leanings or hate crime.{{cite news|title=Hitler imagery in Thai junta propaganda film sparks outrage|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2014-12-10-hitler-imagery-in-thai-junta-propaganda-film-sparks-outrage/|accessdate=4 June 2015|work=Mail & Guardian|date=10 December 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/10/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/thai-junta-propaganda-film-stuns-with-hitler-scene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112234146/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/10/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/thai-junta-propaganda-film-stuns-with-hitler-scene|title=Thai junta propaganda film stuns with Hitler scene|archive-date=2017-01-12|access-date=2019-10-09|date=10 May 2013|work=The Japan Times}}{{cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/07/08/kfc-is-not-amused-by-hitler-fried-chicken/|title=KFC Is Not Amused by 'Hitler' Fried Chicken|first=Melissa|last=Locker| magazine=Time | date=8 July 2013 |publisher=|via=newsfeed.time.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/08/20138916509337563.html|title=Thai educators grapple with Nazi imagery|first=Tom|last=Tuohy|website=www.aljazeera.com |date=15 August 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Ramasoota |first1=Pirongrong |title=Ignorance, hypocrisy and Chula's Hitler billboard |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/360384/ignorance-hypocrisy-and-chula-hitler-billboard |accessdate=18 July 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=18 July 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/hitler-appears-in-thai-propaganda-video/|title=Hitler appears in Thai propaganda video|work=Fox News World|agency=AP|date=10 December 2014}} A Nazi-themed restaurant in Ubon Ratchathani was opened in 2011 called Hitler Fried Chicken, which gained considerable social media traction after an image of it was posted on Twitter. At this point, the restaurant had already changed its name to H-ler Food and Drink and censored Adolf Hitler's face on its store-front branding.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/358663/hitler-chicken-off-the-menu | title='Hitler' chicken is history | website=Bangkok Post | accessdate= 12 August 2024 | date=6 July 2013 }}
In 2006, a restaurant named Hitler's Cross was opened in Mumbai, India. It was later renamed after protests by the Indian Jewish community.{{cite news |title=Mumbai's 'Hitler's Cross' Restaurant to Change Name After Uproar |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2006-08-24/ty-article/mumbais-hitlers-cross-restaurant-to-change-name-after-uproar/0000017f-db48-df9c-a17f-ff58f0200000 |date=August 24, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=Haaretz |language=en}} 'Nazi Collection' Bedspread was launched, by a Mumbai-based home furnishing company in 2007.{{cite news |title='Nazi Collection' Bedspread Outrages Indian Jews |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4980469 |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=Haaretz |language=en}} In 2007, in Gujarat a men's clothing store named Hitler was in the news. After the outrage owners claimed they did not know Adolf Hitler.{{cite news |title='Hitler' Clothing Store in India Asked by Jewish Community to Change Name |url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/jews-ask-indian-hitler-store-to-change-name-1.5292021 |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=Haaretz |language=en}} In 2011, a pool parlour named Hitler's Den was opened in Nagpur. It included the Nazi swastika and insignia. The Israeli embassy in India expressed displeasure with the naming. Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organisation called for the parlour to be renamed but the owners of the establishment refused to rename it.{{cite news |title=Jewish rights body demand renaming of 'Hitler's Den' in Nagpur |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/jewish-rights-body-demand-renaming-of-hitlers-den-in-nagpur-451191 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=NDTV.com}}
A clothing store in Karachi, Pakistan called "Hitler Reloaded" is named after Hitler.