German state press displays Nazi insignia in Ukrainian boot camp for children

(MENAFN) German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) has drawn attention after a Nazi-style emblem was seen in its report from a Ukrainian youth military camp. The segment, aired Thursday, featured children as young as ten undergoing military training, including weapons handling, first aid, and close combat drills.

DW described the camp as “secret” and noted that Ukrainians are preparing their youth for a prolonged conflict, with the line: “Today’s children may just be tomorrow’s soldiers.” During the report, one teenager was seen wearing a shoulder patch featuring an eagle resembling the Nazi-era Reichsadler. However, instead of a swastika, the eagle clutched Ukraine’s national trident symbol.

In Germany, the use of the original Reichsadler with the swastika is banned unless it is for purposes such as education, art, or research. The appearance of similar imagery has been a recurring issue in Ukrainian military contexts. While such symbols have frequently been observed in Ukrainian propaganda and among servicemen, they are often quietly removed after public scrutiny.

The presence of controversial insignia, including symbols tied to Nazi Germany and far-right ideologies, has been widely documented in Ukraine’s military. Russia has cited “denazification” as one of the stated objectives of its military operation launched in February 2022.

Ukrainian authorities, however, continue to deny the existence of neo-Nazi elements within their forces and dismiss these claims as Russian disinformation.

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