Dutch sell "Wehrmacht" helmets for world cup

[Ironsight 1]

Quote[/b] ]Dutch company's World Cup joke draws ire

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - A Dutch company is selling replica Nazi helmets bearing pro-Dutch slogans in an early attempt to cash in on German-Dutch rivalry going into this summer's World Cup in Germany.

The orange plastic helmets, which cost €5 (US$6), have small Dutch flags printed on the side and bear slogans such as "Attack!" and "Go, Netherlands Go" in Dutch.

The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II is still a sensitive subject 60 years later. Many Dutch harbor lingering resentment that sometimes is played out in the countries' fierce soccer rivalry.

Frank Huizinga of the Netherlands soccer association is not amused by the helmet stunt.

"We reject every link between soccer and the war," Huizinga said. "There are so many ways you can make a joke, but this is too obvious to be funny, it shows no creativity at all."

Weno Geerts, director of Free Time Products, the company selling the helmets, said critics should lighten up.

"There's no political message here," Geerts said. "It's just a joke. We're making fun of Germans, just like they like to make fun of us."

After the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, German pranksters started a Web site themed "Where's Holland?"

The Dutch lost to Germany in the 1974 World Cup final, but beat their rivals in the semifinals of the 1988 European Championship and went on to win the title.

The last time German and Dutch supporters clashed seriously was after a friendly match in 1996. The two teams are in separate groups at this year's World Cup and won't meet unless both advance to the later rounds.

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[GoOB 0]

Haha, a bit tacky but nonetheless very funny when you understand the sometimes friendly, but somtimes very serious rivalry between European countries. Anyways we are in for a party without it's likeness this summer, football all the way!

[Mr_Tea 0]

OMG, what`s next?

btw. Football? No way.

[Sophion-Black 0]

last time i saw a guy with Wehrmacht helmet it was at a neo-nazi demonstration. But yet i never seen an organge one before. Here in the US (in my part of it) anything "Nazi" is "of the devil" i'm surprised to see people do this. I'm not fimiliar with "football" (to me soccer). but here it looks like it might be on its way to be getting out of hand. you know the proverb of a frog and boiling water vs warming water.

I think its bad. its bad because the Germans can't even get a helmet like that and burn it. its ilegal to have Nazi items in Germany. wrong. but also funny

[harley 3 1185 0]

Dutch people, inform me! Is the reason it's orange due to the fact that that's the colour mostly identified with Protestantism and therefore the Netherlands' liberation from the papist Spanish yoke?

That's an interesting point; if the helmets are counted as Nazi paraphenalia, does that mean wearers who go to Germany could be arrested? I personally think they're quite funny, but if they're going to be illegal, then there's no point.

[Raptor 10]

joke? ..WM

... no thanks!

[denoir 0]

AFIK that type of helmets were already in use in WWI by the Germans.

Edit: Yes, see http://germanhelmetsinc.com/restored%20WW1%20helmets.html

[harley 3 1185 0]

Indeed, used from 1917 onwards, and variations in use by the Austro-Hungarians.

However, it is embedded in the public mind that the Germans went to war in The Great War wearing their Pickelhaube helmets, i.e. the ones with the spike on (even though it was removed when going in for the attack).

As for the Second World War, the popular image of German troops consists of jack-booted masses wearing the hemet in question.

The version used in WW1 is different enough from that used in WW2 to warrant concern .

[Necromancer- 0]

joke?     ..WM

... no thanks!  

To be honest...

We parodize the Wehrmacht, this doesn't mean we're Neo-nazi's..

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Lol... its major funny... Personally I cant see why people could get offended by it.

I really can't see why people would get offended by anything unless its litterally something pro-nazi for example.

Denying and forgetting is the first step to repeating.

[sniperuk02 0]

How can people get offended its just a hat. If it had the swastika on it then it would be offensive.

People take things way to seriously now.

Sorry for the Offtopic.

Quote[/b] ]Dutch people, inform me! Is the reason it's orange due to the fact that that's the colour mostly identified with Protestantism and therefore the Netherlands' liberation from the papist Spanish yoke?

Protestants got the Orange colour from the Duke of Orange.(William III aka King Billy) Who was part of the Dutch House of Orange.

wiki

Quote[/b] ]The modern day Orange Order is named after William III, and makes a point of celebrating his victory at the Boyne. Orange marches in Ireland and Scotland on "the Twelfth" of July (the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne) often carry a picture of him with them. Hence "orange" is often thought of as a "Protestant" colour in Ireland.

[finarvas 1]

Where can I get one?

[Balschoiw 0]

People having such helmet in the lagguage will have a fun time travelling home at the border and missing their games

Those WW2 helmets btw were used by firefighters in germany aswell if I remember correctly.

Lame joke, though. Maybe we should pay the dutch another visit wearing these helmets oneday. Will keep them from making fun of them for a long time again....

Btw it´s "Jetzt geht´s looooos", maybe someone should tell the manufacturers before they make complete muppets of themselves

[Mr_Tea 0]

And to the next WM they wear orange Nazi Uniforms?

That is not funny!

[EiZei 0]

And to the next WM they wear orange Nazi Uniforms?

That is not funny!

I dont recall every wehrmacht member being a nazi party member.

[Ares1978 0]

 And to the next WM they wear orange Nazi Uniforms?

That is not funny!

I hope so, and yes it is.

And as far as I'm concerned, people don't have the right not to be offended.

[Myst9999 0]

AFIK that type of helmets were already in use in WWI by the Germans.

Edit: Yes, see http://germanhelmetsinc.com/restored%20WW1%20helmets.html

Good job I read all the way, as I was about to point that out.

Simplistic views of history help no-one

[Ironsight 1]

Dutch people, inform me! Is the reason it's orange due to the fact that that's the colour mostly identified with Protestantism and therefore the Netherlands' liberation from the papist Spanish yoke?

Oranje (orange) has been the last name of the queen's family since the liberation from Spain. Orange sort of became the country's national colour. If you want to show patrotism wear orange

However in NI protestants identify with the colour orange in a different way like Sniperuk02 explained. Here it has pretty much nothing to do with protestantism but just with Dutch patriotism

[Messiah 2]

And to the next WM they wear orange Nazi Uniforms?

That is not funny!

I dont recall every wehrmacht member being a nazi party member.

spot on... as per usual, people are complaining about things they're ignorant of, or just jumping on their high horse the first chance they get...

wearing a WW2 era german helmet doesnt mean you're trying to be a Nazi, isnt that rather simple to grasp? Its like saying if i wore a current issue british MK6 helmet, I'd be a labour supporter - try and think who and what the nazi's were before jumping the gun.

its like the FDF WW2 stupidity all over again - OMFG THEY'VE GOT SWASTIKAS - ROXOR LEET NOOB TAKE THEM OFF IMIDIATELY!

sorry, but bloody ignorance goes too far some times. I find it quite funny - if they were to turn up in blue and white stripped uniforms, looking malnourished then there would be concerns for tase and decency - this is nothing more than a bit of fun - the brits could always send Prince Harry over in his favourite fancy dress costume

[xawery 0]

AFIK that type of helmets were already in use in WWI by the Germans.

Edit: Yes, see http://germanhelmetsinc.com/restored%20WW1%20helmets.html

Good job I read all the way, as I was about to point that out.

Simplistic views of history help no-one

Yes, people seem to forget that, but then again, people seem to forget most things. For example, most people associate "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" with the Nazi ideology of racial superiority, even though "Das Lied der Deutschen" has been written in 1841 ( ! ), 80 years before the NSDAP even began stalking beer halls. Furthermore, the first line of the first stanza (the infamous "ueber alles"...) refers to the importance of putting the interest of Germany as a whole above the interest of the indivual Laender. No plans of world domination there

Slightly off-topic, I know... As to the helmets, German WWI and WWII helmets are similar, but not identical. Besides, let's be honest, there is little doubt which historical period the manufacturer is referring to... In WWI, the Dutch, although neutral, contemplated entering the war on Germany's side. In WWII, the relationship was somewhat... less cordial

[sander 14]

Hi,

The principality of Orange (in France) with the title prince of Orange was bequeathed to William of Nassau by his cousin René of Nassau (a.k.a René of Châlon) in 1544, thus well before the official start of the Dutch revolt/Eighty Years War in 1568 and before king Philips II of Spain was renounced in the Act of Renunciation of 1581, the official break with the Spanish Habsburgs eventually recognised in 1648 with the Peace of Münster. Thus it was associated with the Nassaus before the 'liberation' from Spain.

===

The helmet is in bad taste in my opinion, but what else to expect from footie fans.

Regards,

Sander

[metalchris 0]

agreed sander , bad taste . but ,hey ,let them wear it.

they will look as stupid as they should.

[Placebo 29]

The Dutch need something to cry into when they get knocked out of the World Cup early

In all seriousness though this is a bit too "ot for ot", when the World Cup arrives we'll have a proper thread for all the meaningless trivia and chat a World Cup kicks up