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Czech troopers wore SS insignia

Tuesday 10 November 2009
by Tom Mellen
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Two army officers and their commander have been suspended after it emerged they had worn nazi insignia while serving with the occupation force in Afghanistan.

Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak said that it was "unacceptable" that two commanders of a Czech rapid reaction brigade had worn symbols of World War II nazi SS divisions on their helmets while serving in Logar province.

Mr Bartak said: "Fundamental measures will be taken - if it is proved that there were soldiers in high command structures among those responsible, they will also bear the consequences."

Lieutenant Jan Cermak wore the emblem of the infamous SS Dirlewanger brigade and sergeant Hynek Matonoha wore the symbol of the 9th SS panzer division Hohenstaufen.

Their commander was suspended for allegedly turning a blind eye to the nazi emblems.

On Friday, before their penchant for nazi regalia came to light, Lt Cermak and Sgt Matonoha were decorated for their service in Afghanistan, where the Czech Republic has a 480-strong unit that serves under NATO command.

The Schutzstaffel or SS units were the cruellest in the nazi war machine which occupied swathes of Europe and the former Soviet Union during the second world war.

The "protective squadron" of the Nazi Party, SS members was tasked with exterminating "undesirables" in the civil population and targeting resistance fighters, Jews and communists in particular.

In an apparently separate case, another Czech soldier was booted out of the army on Monday for belonging to a neonazi organisation.

Lukas Sedlacek, who co-founded and trained the White Justice terror group, was stripped of his military rank.

Mr Bartak emphasised that Mr Sedlacek "will leave the army without the right of service retirement allowance and other perks."

According to Czech media, White Justice was preparing terror attacks on power plants and unit substations along with abductions of "Jews in high posts" and the police.

White Justice members were taught to destroy property, blow up cars and fight with or without weaponry.

At the beginning of this year Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocab warned that there were some 90 troops supporting "extremist groups" in the Czech military.

At that time the Defence Ministry dismissed Mr Kocab's claim.

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