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Royals and NAZI salutes

(66 Posts)
vampirequeen Sat 18-Jul-15 08:28:16

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU55Bxr7T6E

1933....

Hitler has just gained power in Germany. No one really guessed what was about to happen.

A lot of people in the Britain sympathised with the NAZI ideals and admired the way they organised government. Black shirts led by Oswald Mosley held regular meetings and marches.

Edward VIII supported the NAZI party before and during the war according to --conspiracy theories--evidence. There is even some evidence that the betrayed the French (and therefore the British) by giving the Germans details of the French defences. Not long after the fall of France he was shipped out to the Bahamas where he could do no more damage.

The anti-Semitic aspect of NAZI policy was ignored because at that time Antisemitism was accepted in Britain as well. Read novels and short stories from that time and you'll cringe at the open antisemitism and xenophobia.

The video is a historical document showing how admiration for NAZI ideals permeated all the way to the highest echelons of society. It doesn't mean the Queen is a NAZI. However it is a testament to how the Royal Family felt at that time.

OMG am I defending the Monarchy again blush

redorist Mon 20-Jul-15 17:20:38

Why is the Sun stirring up trouble......as children back in the forties we had to make our own fun and we would copy what was on the cinema playing cowboys and indians etc. or because of the war would play at fighting the Germans.....some would be goose stepping and heil hitlering.

Anniebach Mon 20-Jul-15 12:58:25

And Murdoch is a republican

nigglynellie Mon 20-Jul-15 12:35:03

I just don't see that dragging all this up after all these years is of interest or benefit to anyone. It was a completely different world then with ideas and attitudes that we would find completely unacceptable. Prince Phillip served with distinction in the Royal Navy during WW2 as did the Queen in the AT S. The king and Queen refused to leave London which they could easily have done, and did what they could to boost morale, so I don't really understand what this witch hunt is about - oh, silly me, money of course!!!

Anniebach Mon 20-Jul-15 10:40:38

It is well reported that Churchill, the QM and more were anti Semitic , it was common to see 'no Jews' cards in lodging houses etc, this country was,like many countries, anti Semitic

Eloethan Mon 20-Jul-15 10:00:07

As others have said, I feel the photograph should not be assumed to be evidence of Nazi sympathies and, of course, young girls would have had no idea of the significance of the salute which, in any event, may well have just been mimicking and ridiculing Hitler and his supporters.

However, the Observer reported yesterday that the palace has for years sought to suppress the release of damaging material showing the very close and fairly widespread links between the royals and the Nazis. This was at a time when the removal of Jewish people from public office and the escalating harassment and violence against them was being reported and known to most people in the UK.

Anniebach Mon 20-Jul-15 09:35:44

C4 is to air a programme about one of Phillips sisters and her admiration for Hitler, as his sisters married Germans what's news about this , he is not responsible for the actions of his siblings

nigglynellie Mon 20-Jul-15 09:26:57

Curiously George Vth was a devoted and very loving Grandfather, to the Queen and Princess Margaret, both of whom were extremely fond of him. I think this happens in quite a few families, human beings are very complex!
I see Channel 4 is making a programme about the royal family and their Nazi connections! Oh dear, it's almost outside living memory but can still cause distress for some. Why oh why couldn't these keen bastions of morality at least wait until the two main players i.e., the Queen and Prince Phillip are dead. Mind you I suppose it wouldn't have the same shock horror effect then!! FGS why can't they leave these two very elderly people alone?! I know, because it sells the paper and boosts the t.v. ratings!

absent Sun 19-Jul-15 23:57:19

George V was reported as saying something along the lines of "I was afraid of my father and my children will damn well be afraid of me" – not exactly the kind of parent to warm your heart and build your confidence. I don't think the son who later became George VI was helped by the unfortunate coincidence of being born on the anniversary of Prince Albert's death – hardly a major welcome into the world – and, very probably, being reminded about this at every birthday at least for the first few years of his life. Calling him Albert did little to placate his great grandmother's resentment of this presumption.

Anniebach Sun 19-Jul-15 22:50:17

They were a family with many problems, there was also the youngest John who died young

vampirequeen Sun 19-Jul-15 22:02:36

I think George VI speech impediment was caused by being forced to use his right hand when he was naturally left handed. The ridicule he then endured because of this stammer made him withdrawn and shy.

Anniebach Sun 19-Jul-15 21:08:07

Absent, i said not very bright because it was a kinder thing to say

merlotgran Sun 19-Jul-15 21:01:20

Yes. Spoilt for choice weren't they?

absent Sun 19-Jul-15 21:00:09

merlotgran Well all that ran in the family.

merlotgran Sun 19-Jul-15 20:59:12

That should have read, Would have been appointed regent if anything had happened to George VI.

merlotgran Sun 19-Jul-15 20:57:46

The Duke of Gloucester also had a speech impediment and a very high pitched voice which might have been ridiculed. He had a drink problem and had also embarked on an unsuitable love affair prior to his marriage. He was appointed regent until Princess Elizabeth came of age.

absent Sun 19-Jul-15 20:48:10

Anniebach I think the consensus is that the Duke of Kent (and the Duchess, for that matter) was bi-sexual rather than gay. The abdicating and ascending kings weren't very bright either so I can't see why his lack of intellect would rule out (whoops – sorry) the Duke of Gloucester. Besides how clever does a constitutional monarch have to be – it ain't rocket surgery.

Nelliemoser Sun 19-Jul-15 20:46:57

Absent A damn good job they didn't have one of the others then. By all accounts George V was a dreadful father and all the children had a tough time despite their station in life.

Anniebach Sun 19-Jul-15 20:35:56

The duke of Kent was gay, the duke of Gloucester had problems - not very bright . So there was only Duke of York who could have been considered

absent Sun 19-Jul-15 20:27:50

Nelliemoser and nigglynellie While not relevant to this thread, it is interesting that when the abdication occurred, there was discussion among the powers that be of skipping over the Duke of York because of his shyness and stammer and putting one of his brothers on the throne. However, the Duke of Kent was considered just as much of a playboy as the abdicating king and the Duke of Gloucester had no wish for the throne.

Luckygirl Sun 19-Jul-15 20:16:15

All the papers seem to have latched on to this. It is nonsense of course. Kids messing around with family before the true significance of the nazis became clear.

nigglynellie Sun 19-Jul-15 19:03:28

Edward the heir was as yet unmarried , his eldest brother Albert (Bertie) was his heir, Elizabeth was Berties heir, making her third in line to the throne, sister Margaret was fourth. This would have changed had Edward married and had children or Bertie and his wife Elizabeth (later QM) had a son who would automatically superseded his sisters.

rosesarered Sun 19-Jul-15 18:41:49

It's all a lot of hot air generated to sell papers, neither newsworthy nor anything else.

Nelliemoser Sun 19-Jul-15 18:32:47

Absent At the time Edward was heir apparent and could possibly have produced an heir.
I am not certain but I think that if anything had happened to a still childless Edward his next brother down, i.e. Bertie/George would have been in line for the throne. Elizabeth would then have been her fathers heir presumptive unless a male heir was born.

If anyone has a better idea let me know. I am not a monarchy expert.

merlotgran Sun 19-Jul-15 18:14:51

Remember this?

Great piece of anti-Nazi propoganda.

nigglynellie Sun 19-Jul-15 18:05:43

FGS, this is a family larking around and giving what is an exaggerated nazi salute, who knows why or in what context. It's quite outrageous that this should be a) stolen, and b) flaunted in the public domain for people to pull to bits and make accusations about, just vile and typical of that rag masquerading as a newspaper - it should be banned!!
Can anyone remember putting a finger across the upper lip denoting a Hitler moustache.?! I can remember doing this amid gales of childish laughter about 60 years ago! No doubt today, this would be earnestly analysed, and secret nazi sympathies concluded. A lot of people imitated Hitler in a less than respectful way, Charlie Chaplin for one, and I think this was one of these occasions - in other words ridiculing the ridiculous little man.