The online auction of almost 60 items of Nazi war memorabilia by a Melbourne business this weekend – including swastika flags, a gas canister and a Third Reich cake fork – has angered many in Melbourne’s Jewish community.
The Victorian government recently introduced landmark legislation to ban public displays of the Nazi swastika that come into force next year, but the trade in collectible Nazi memorabilia remains legal, and continues to thrive.
Don Mahoney, 73, is auctioning dozens of items previously owned or used by members of the Third Reich online, via his Mount Evelyn-based business.
He founded his memorabilia business in 1973 and has been repeatedly criticised for selling Nazi memorabilia in the past. He insists he only sells war memorabilia to genuine collectors but concedes there is no way of vetting the background of every buyer.
Mahoney, a former champion bodybuilder and gym owner, said his business did not use swastikas or any other hate symbols to promote its regular online auctions.
“It’s absolutely disgusting what they [Nazi Germany] did to the Jewish people, but I’m interested in selling history. And you can’t change history,” he said.
“If people were marching around the street with swastika armbands or flying flags, I would say arrest the bastards and throw them in jail.”
Read the article by Cameron Houston in The Age.