I own a long dagger/short sword. The hilt is in the design of the German eagle with its wings spread out as the hand guard and in the middle of the hand guard is a swastika. The scabbard is also adorned with swastikas on the top, mid section, and bottom.
I don’t want to own this piece as I don’t want to be seen as a Nazi sympathizer or anything of the sort, but I don’t want to sell it to someone who actually is a Nazi sympathizer or something like that.
What do I do with it besides trash it? I don’t want to trash it because it’s decent quality. It’s not historic in any way (which disturbs me to think about) but it’s well made.
What can I do with it?
*The item in question is not historical
I have a similar item that I don’t want to display but also don’t want to get rid of - I inherited it from my grandfather who got it by killing a Nazi.
How do I keep the memory of an item that represents killing Nazis to me without it looking sympathetic? Defacing the symbols might be the right way
I don’t think you need to deface it. You could even display it if you’re so inclined. Just make it clear to people who see it that you aren’t a Nazi sympathizer in the same way you’ve done here and you’ll be fine.
It may be worth calling a few reputable museums to ask if they are interested in it. You could retain ownership while they display it, and that way you share the story of your grandfather without giving away the thing he left you.
Get a display case and put a note with the story on it. That way it’s clear its being kept from historical/sentimental value and not because you like Nazis.
Frame it with an engraving telling the story. That’s an awesome piece of history to have, but you would definitely need to display it in some way that immediately communicates “this is historical”.
Get a label maker and add a label saying “aquired by killing a nazi” (there’s probably something cooler/nicer than a label, like engraving it, and there’s probably a better way to word it too)
Loot
That’s an interesting question and wonder what most would say. There’s a story behind yours that’s rooted in world history and obviously affected your family. IMO, you’re allowed to keep it without looking sympathetic.
Same boat. My partner’s grandfather had a bunch of WW2 memorabilia that their parents passed down to us. Among it are the papers of some Nazis he took off their bodies as well as other odds and ends.
It just sits in a box in our closet. It’s interesting history, but definitely not something I have any interest in displaying.