Two Czech Soldiers Dismissed from Army for Wearing Nazi Symbols

Two members of the Czech army, who wore Nazi symbols on their helmets whilst serving in Afghanistan, have been dismissed from the army by the country's Defense Minister Martin Bartak.

Both the men concerned, Lieutenant Jan Cermak and Sergeant Hynek Matonoha, had returned to the Czech Republic after having served in Logar province, which is in eastern Afghanistan. Furthermore, as the Xinhua News Agency reports, last week the two men were decorated for their bravery whilst in the Central Asian country. An investigation in to the matter, which involved Sergeant Matonoha wearing the symbol of the 9th SS panzer division Hohenstaufen on his helmet and Lieutenant Cermak wearing the symbol of the SS Dirlewanger brigade on his helmet, will be conducted by Vlastimil Picek, the Czech Republic's chief-of-staff. Mlada Fronta Dnes, a Czech daily, had published a photograph on Monday showing Lieutenant Cermak in the helmet that has led to the end of his military career. The men's commander Petr Prochazka has been suspended whilst the investigation is ongoing as he allegedly did not punish the men over the matter, instead ordering that the covers of their helmets and any photographs showing the covers being worn be burnt. In addition, notes the Earth Times the commander in charge of all Czech military operations abroad has been suspended. According to Military.com Lieutenant Cermak and Sergeant Matonoha, now apparently former members of the Czech rapid reaction brigade, have lost their right of service retirement allowances and severance pay as a result of their dismissal. The decision to dismiss the two men from the army, Mr Bartak remarked when announcing his decision that "Such a case cannot be tolerated", should come as no surprise as in many European countries, the Czech Republic included, it is a criminal offense to wear Nazi symbols. Adding to the embarrassment for the Czech Republic following their soldiers' actions in Afghanistan is the fact that on Monday another member of the country's armed forces, Lukas Sedlacek, was dismissed after he admitted that he had trained members of White Justice, a neo-Nazi group World War 4 Report says he co-founded, as they prepared for terrorist attacks, including one on a hydroelectric station in Zelezny Brod, and the abductions of police officers and "highly positioned Jews". At present there are 333 Czech troops in Afghanistan as a part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), with as many as 100 members of the Czech Republic's 601st Special Operations Group involved in the U.S. military's ”Operation Enduring Freedom”.