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SS Barrack Room Lamp Shade

A purely subjective comment this time - personally I think its hideous! Having said that, if it is indeed SS related, its still probably in quite good taste considering some SS items that came out of Concentration camps as decorative items. I'd recommend an objective read perhaps: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Scourge-Swastika-History-Crimes/dp/1602392811 At 9.18 good value. Helps put historical context. Its a difficult read, but if you collect German related items (as I do) very necessary I think.
 
Ya know what's the worst part of all this?: My return key doesn't work when I type in a reply post. Now THAT'S upsetting. Works elsewhere, but not here. :-(
 
I'm actually a bit ambivalent about the morals of the lamp shade [although if it's 1930's German it would be better described as Neue Sachlichkeit or Bauhaus rather than art deco] . My main question is , I remember having a box of German WW2 bullets some years ago & they had SS runes on them . Would this be correct or is my memory playing up ? Thanks all !
 
An interesting and thought provoking thread - nuff said. Readers of the thread can of course judge the content for themselves. To close for me though - as we comment/agree/disagree/agree to disagree - across the spectrum of mixed opinions and content - I agree with slick - my return key doesn't work either and its bl*ody annoying!
 
de gustibus non est disputandum (There is no accounting for taste) You know, that is the one dangerous thing about humans, they are unpredictable and you never know what they will think about something. And on top of that, they can get a chemical imbalance or brain tumor and turn into a killer or someone that doesn't fit into society at any time. So, everyone has a differing opinion of an item, due to their frame of reference. As a piece of history and art, I like the lampshade. As a collector, German and Japanese Ordnance seem to be among the most highly sought after, but the collectors tend to overlook the horrible things that these regimes did to their prisoners and victims, because they avoid the politics involved. As has been said by others, many of us are interested in the technology of Ordnance, but in our postings and discussions, the majority know better than to glorify how well something killed or maimed and carefully avoid such statements. As an Ordnance collector and Engineer, I'm fascinated by the technology and physics of how munitions and launch systems work the same way that a car enthusiast is fascinated by a new engine or transmission. I have no interest in the politics of the leaders of the regimes or the managers of the companies that made something. One of my policies with friends, is to avoid talking or arguing politics or religion, and I would consider almost everyone in BOCN a friend. But, on the other hand, I get pissed every time I see a Mitsubishi car in the U.S., because Mitsubishi made the airplanes that bombed Pearl Harbor. There is no accounting for taste.

If the lampshade had been from an SS Artillery Unit, maybe some people would have a different opinion.

I never cease to be amazed at the things that I see here on BOCN every day! I am so thankful every day that Spotter and friends conceived BOCN, and that we get new members every day, that add to the expertise of knowledge of the items that we collect. As far as I'm concerned, until better proof comes along, Skull181 is the expert on SS lampshades. I welcome his posts, even if he is a bit casual with the word "cool". Perhaps if he had said "Cool Art Deco". To me it's history and I welcome his input. I would much rather have people submit too many posts, than miss out on seeing something that is "cool" to me. I will continue to ignore the ones that don't interest me, in the same manner that everyone else does. Play nice, don't fight!
 
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Not getting involved in the SS argument,but I don't think this is a SS related item anyway,as already pointed out the design is not right for SS runes.....Siegfreid...yes they did,ln the early days the SS was not recognised or accepted by the German army and would not supply them with equipment or arms so they had there own made.

Tony
 
Slick said:
Hey Skull

Cool lampshade.

Not sure why it's generated such a kerfuffle. Don't see how anything about it as offensive. A very unique piece of history and interesting in its own right.

Thanks for posting the pics.

Rick
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I fully agree that the lamp is not offensive, at least to me personally. Historical artifacts are just that, pieces of history, to be studied and appreciated within the context of time and events. For some of us with more public collections however, it can sometimes be a struggle to keep things in context.

It is too simple to dismiss this as "political correctness". I think that those in our group who actually know me would struggle to use that description in the same sentence as my name, it is not something I am known for. My concerns relate not so much to history, but with more current events. My home State of Michigan has always had a strong population of unhappy groups, with neo-nazis well represented among them. They have lost significant strength in the last decade with much of our population moving south looking for work, but are still here and still making themselves felt. Groups like Gallows Tree Wotansvolk Alliance, NS Publications, American Nazi Party, National Socialist Aryan Order and The National Socialist Movement all fly their flags here in our State and can be seen at our local militaria and gun shows. Their followers set up tables at the shows and buy and sell historic patches, badges and artifacts, frequently mixed in with their own literature and books such as The Turner Diaries, Hunter, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, etc. Less often you will still see tables where they do open recruitment for new members. I observed some members at a show on Saturday.

I am not trying to turn this into a political or social debate. But I do not shore these ideological leanings and do not want anyone to get any mistaken belief that I do, either by something I may have in my collection or by a forum that I participate in. PC aside, this would affect me both on a collection level and professionally. I have been very happy to participate in this forum for a number of years because it stuck mainly to technical and historic aspects of ammunition. If my post above is seen as an over-reaction it is because silence equals approval, and approval invites more of the same. I believe that more of the same (as it appears and could be interpreted) could potentially change the tone or perception of this forum. I for one would rather not see that.
 
spotter said:
Ok time to chip in ,,ive not shut this post down because its posted in "members collections" not listed as ordnance and the lamp shade no matter what its origins art deco,3rd reich ,4th reich whatever is in skulls collection,
we have had non ordnance related posts in the past not listed as ordnance which have not caused any problems,,remember phils capri car restoration nobody carried on about that for been non ordnance related,
as long as this thread doesnt turn political or into a complete and utter shambles i wont be removing it
I just want everyone to try and get along together as you always have without falling out

allan
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Totally Agree
 
Perhaps the forum needs some guidance in relation to this. I hadn't intended to post anymore, as I don't want to inflame those that do not seem to agree with my thoughts. We don't want to incorporate Political correctness, but like it or not, we are an easy target for those that do not approve of what we do. If it is perceived that we in anyway condone the actions of the Nazi Regime or members of it, this will be picked up on very quickly. Rightly so in my opinion. We need to be apolitical and this (whatever your beliefs) should include members when posting, being aware of the sensitivities of other members and those outside the forum who will look at it and judge us. I earn my living as a historian and am well aware of the greater context of the Nazi Regime. I find anything SS related from a belief's perspective offensive. The problem here is being perceived as thinking an individual artefact in its own right as interesting in a historical context, as opposed to indicating a sympathetic belief in what it represents from a wider beliefs perspective.
 
Cant help hoping there's no Zulus or fuzzy wuzzies following this 'cos they will have a field day when a Martini Henry round is posted because it was made to 'supress' them by us British.
 
Still trying to not get involved in the SS pros and cons arguments......but both views expressed about them in this thread are both right and wrong,some SS regiments ended their war with honour and a 'clear conscience' while other SS regiments proved themselves to be of the same vane as the maniac that was running their country at the time....to those who steadfastly maintain their pro or con views of the SS I sugguest they read some of the newer reference books on the subject where facts/fiction and propaganda have been seperated.

Back to the 'lamp shade',I seem to remember seeing somewhere a discussion about these being recently made?

Tony
 
What a waste of time and mental effort. It's a LAMP SHADE, folks. Why wasn't it deleted immediately? And for the sake of argument, car, pet, favorite food, etc., posts should go also. There are lots of places on the internet to post whatever you want. This site is for ordnance-related material..........or at least I thought it was.
 
I respect all of my fellow members' opinions here, on the best website there is but arguing over a lampshade that may or may not be SS related? That may or may not be recently made?
C'mon brothers...
 
I'm sorry if people think I'm glorifying the SS, I'm certainly not. It's a 30's Lamp shade which I think (?) shows the Runes.

It could well be "art deco", although I've seen similar pictures of lamp shades in the German barracks.

I will stick to Butterfly Bombs in the future......
 
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