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German troops 'had WWII symbol' | |
(about 12 hours later) | |
A German magazine has published a photograph showing a wartime symbol on a vehicle allegedly used by German troops bound for Afghanistan. | |
The defence ministry is investigating the photograph, published on Thursday in the weekly magazine Stern. | The defence ministry is investigating the photograph, published on Thursday in the weekly magazine Stern. |
It follows the recent scandal of photographs of German soldiers posing with human skulls and skeletons. | It follows the recent scandal of photographs of German soldiers posing with human skulls and skeletons. |
Six servicemen were suspended over the first case, and a total of 23 are being investigated in connection with it. | Six servicemen were suspended over the first case, and a total of 23 are being investigated in connection with it. |
At the end of last month, the German government announced a grand new role for the country's military. | At the end of last month, the German government announced a grand new role for the country's military. |
It decided that more troops would be sent abroad on peacekeeping missions and Germany would expand its efforts to maintain international security. | It decided that more troops would be sent abroad on peacekeeping missions and Germany would expand its efforts to maintain international security. |
New scandal | New scandal |
But the army has been embarrassed and shamed by a stream of photographs in German newspapers. | But the army has been embarrassed and shamed by a stream of photographs in German newspapers. |
First were the images of German troops desecrating human remains, taken in Afghanistan. | First were the images of German troops desecrating human remains, taken in Afghanistan. |
Now a new photograph in Stern shows a vehicle with a palm tree and an iron cross painted onto it. | Now a new photograph in Stern shows a vehicle with a palm tree and an iron cross painted onto it. |
The symbol is reminiscent of that used by the German Wehrmacht commander General Erwin Rommel - the "Desert Fox" - in North Africa during World War II. | |
The defence ministry has promised another investigation. | The defence ministry has promised another investigation. |
The recent scandals have sparked a fierce debate in Germany about whether the army here is ready to take on a greater role abroad. | The recent scandals have sparked a fierce debate in Germany about whether the army here is ready to take on a greater role abroad. |