‘’I urge the Czech government, for the sake of decency, for the honour of their fallen heroes and to send a message to Jews in the Czech Republic and across the world, to outlaw and ban the sale of any and all Nazi memorabilia,’’ stated Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association. 

A storm has erupted in the Czech Republic over the publication and sale of a calendar of “Personalities of the Third Reich” featuring a dozen leading Nazis, including Hitler, Himmler, and Heydrich.

The calendar is published by Naše Vojsko, which publishes materials “on military, historical and technical topics”. It is listed for sale in its website for CZK 499 (18,5 euros).

Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek called the calendar “tacky and immoral”.

The Israeli and German embassies in Prague both condemned the publication. Israeli ambassador in Prague Daniel Meron said he was “shocked and disgusted by such a calendar.’’

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Associaton (EJA) condemned the publication. ‘’Such items have no place in civil society, especially in a country that suffered so much under the nazi jackboot,’’ he said in a statement, urging the Czech government to outlaw and ban the sale of any and all Nazi memorabilia.

‘’The publisher states that there is demand for such items. We heard similar words from an auction house in Munich that was selling Nazi memorabilia in 2019. This is not an excuse,’’ said Rabbi Margolin.

‘’ Words of condemnation whilst welcome are meaningless. The sale of such items is not only disgusting and an affront to the millions that perished under Nazi ideology, but is very, very  dangerous in times of rising antisemitism. It glorifies murder, empowers those who hate the « other », and trivializes each and every abhorrent act undertaken by Hitler and his henchmen.’’

‘’I urge the Czech government, for the sake of decency, for the honour of their fallen heroes and to send a message to Jews in the Czech Republic and across the world, to outlaw and ban the sale of any and all nazi memorabilia,’’ he concluded.