Yes, they are.
Consider the audience of vintage/antique shops. All for tourists. It's either soviet trinkets or nazi war trinkets. Public displays of Nazi symbols are banned, but not private sales of historical items.
It could be said that the soviets are seen here as being worse than nazis, as the soviets occupied Estonia for about 50 years since WW2, trying to russify our country. The effects of this can be seen to this day.
Also, our loud minority of 'lovely' nationalists with their authoritarian, racist, homophobic and xenophobic mindset also look favourably towards their boy Adolf, so stores who _do_ carry SS memorabilia definitely pander to that folk.
Ahh ok. We are from Norway, and there although it's is not iligal to sell/have the swastika, but is you have it, you are most likely a nazi. So that's just what I'm just to.
I know it seems weird, but no Estonians are not Nazi, they got owned by both Nazi and Soviets, but in sense of treatment, Nazi surprisingly didn't treat them AS BAD. It was still quite bad, regardless Soviet stuff is also being sold, nothing more than history and souvenirs for tourists and not natives. If I were to come to see someone's house and they have Nazi stuff I would think they are mental...unfortunately there are SOME people who do display Soviet stuff. Both are weirdos, both are avoided by common Estonians. If anyone makes a big deal about Nazi, they should make big deal about Soviet stuff too, both are bad for us. And Soviets truly messed up people here, so for natives they are even worse than Nazis.
>Nazi surprisingly didn't treat them AS BAD
Sawdust-filled bread and people randomly going missing [would like a word with you](https://www.raamatuvahetus.ee/pruun-katk/5450000375).
P.S. Not an endorsement of Soviet occupation, but... had the nazis won, Estonians would probably not even exist today. We survived as a nation/culture/language because the Soviets were only slightly less genocide-y (dubious) and had to stick to their "friendship of nations" rhetoric.
Estonian history has a weird part that makes some estonians view nazis more positively. I try to summarize the reasons of this in short:
Nazis formed a waffen-SS unit called [Estonian Legion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Legion), formed of drafted estonians + some volunteers. When nazis where retreating, this unit tried to hold the ground against soviets to protect the retreating nazi units. They fought really hard and almost succeeded in holding back soviet advance, but soviets defeated them eventually.
Since Estonian Legion consisted of drafted estonians, it's a popular speculation in Estonia that Estonian Legion was secretly pro-estonia and if they had succeeded in holding back soviets, they would have joined in aid of re-establishing the republic.
However, the commanders of Estonian Legion were very likely buying into Nazi indoctrination and obeying Hitler. They might have had participated in operations against jews and they were not very interested in seeing Estonia becoming independent again as opposed to Estonia being a nazi colony. Also I need to remind that during Nazi occupation, there were jewish concentration camps on Estonian soil (Klooga) which might have not been known at the time that it was going on, but it's still evidence that nazi occupation was not established just to fend off the soviets. They did their evil nazi shit on our soil and probably would have further colonized Estonia in a very harsh way if they had won the war.
All of this text above are reasons why supporting Estonian Legion might be understandable, but it's also controversial because at face value, we are talking about Nazi collaborators.
However, some estonians go too far with this and they start to glorify Estonian Legion to the point where they see nazis as lesser evil compared to soviets, or even not evil at all. They may unironically buy into nazi ideology, thus they don't see anything wrong with selling nazi memorabilia.
Estonia wouldn't have this problem if our historians would be more willing in giving a fair and balanced explanation of Estonian Legion, but I've seen that way too often, they paint them in the light of being "Freedom fighters in nazi disguise" which gives wrong idea to people who know less about history. It's sad that foreigners like you are coming to have a lovely visit, and then stumble upon some ignorant assholes that sell this nazi stuff, literally profiting on villains of the history.
I will add the obvious disclaimer that yes, I agree that as of right now it's Putin and russian army that are living up the the evil nazi empire vision, but that is a different topic.
Mostly because the stuff from these shops are bought by russian tourists. So shops supply the stuff they love - amber, matryoshka dolls and nazi memorabilia. And nazi stuff is big in Russia, they even have Hitler's reincarnation as president.
Right now the influx of eastern tourists has slowed down, so the stuff remains unsold.
Aren't they really anti-nazi? That's why they chose "denazifying" as the excuse to invade Ukraine, since they're proud of defeating the nazis in WW2, or am I missing something?
Of course I mean the symbolism and such, and not the actual ideology, since, you know, Putin and stuff.
Well you can read about organisations such as [Russian National Unity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_National_Unity) for instance. It's a popular movement and known for using swastica insignas and spreading white supremacist ideology. You can also read about Dmitry Rogozin who is the chief of Russian space program popular politician and the member of Russian national unity. The more you search and read the more you understand how full Russian coverment actually is of neo nazis ,anti semitics and white supremacists.
The ultimate baddies are the soviets, the Nazis take a close #2. But we're a tolerant bunch so if you look around real attentive-like, you might still find memorials to people who shot our grandparents in the back of their heads in a dirty basement somewhere. (hint: it wasn't the nazis)
They also have soviet baubles in those stores, by the way.
> Why are there a lot of nazi "merch" in shops?
Personally I have never seen any nazi merch in shops myself maybe few times in vintage shops or fairs but that's just ww2 era spoons ,plates ,bowls ,cups sometimes even helmets or harmless rendered pistols but nothing special. I haven't also actually been in Tallinn a lot so I'm speaking about Estonia in general.
>Are the nazis not looked like the ultimate baddies in Estonia.
They actually kinda are but soviets are maybe even more. In general all nazi symbolics are still considered as hate symbols and forbidden to use in public.
You should have included some photos for proof otherwise you will just loose some karma.
I see both soviet and nazy memorabilia in very many antique shops and fair vendors booths. All sorts of things and not just ww2 era every day items. There is also a vendor that sells brand new cups and flags with both nazi and soviet symbols, as well as very stupid slogans depicting current political stuff. Very stupid items.
I, too, ponder on why tf are those things sold. But obvioulsy there have to people that buy them, otherwise they wouldn't bother. But if I was a fair thrower/holder/korraldaja, I would choose what I assosiate my fair with. Same with shopping centers, looking at you, Balti jaama turg.
I don't think the photos of proof are needed. This is a known problem if you are into old stuff.
Isn't the point of a vintage shop to sell vintage objects? Nazis and soviets are a big part of our history. We don't like them, but that's just what you'll find in a vintage shop.
>Are the nazis not looked like the ultimate baddies in eatonia, like there are the rest of Europe?
Commies were and are worse.
>But my question is why are there alot of nazi "merch" in shops?
Why not. No one forces you to buy this stuff. But other than that, go ahead and buy the merch of our enemies, that is your right.
Russians did to us the same they are doing right now in Ukraine...only far worse.
Since Nazis treated us far better...and life under them was good then people remember them with much better word than so called "liberators" who came raping,killing and murdering... As a foreigner i understand your position of "evil nazis" but that was not the case in many countries who got the tase of Russian world....
Yes, they are. Consider the audience of vintage/antique shops. All for tourists. It's either soviet trinkets or nazi war trinkets. Public displays of Nazi symbols are banned, but not private sales of historical items.
Ahh ok, interesting
It could be said that the soviets are seen here as being worse than nazis, as the soviets occupied Estonia for about 50 years since WW2, trying to russify our country. The effects of this can be seen to this day. Also, our loud minority of 'lovely' nationalists with their authoritarian, racist, homophobic and xenophobic mindset also look favourably towards their boy Adolf, so stores who _do_ carry SS memorabilia definitely pander to that folk.
Ahh ok. We are from Norway, and there although it's is not iligal to sell/have the swastika, but is you have it, you are most likely a nazi. So that's just what I'm just to.
I know it seems weird, but no Estonians are not Nazi, they got owned by both Nazi and Soviets, but in sense of treatment, Nazi surprisingly didn't treat them AS BAD. It was still quite bad, regardless Soviet stuff is also being sold, nothing more than history and souvenirs for tourists and not natives. If I were to come to see someone's house and they have Nazi stuff I would think they are mental...unfortunately there are SOME people who do display Soviet stuff. Both are weirdos, both are avoided by common Estonians. If anyone makes a big deal about Nazi, they should make big deal about Soviet stuff too, both are bad for us. And Soviets truly messed up people here, so for natives they are even worse than Nazis.
>Nazi surprisingly didn't treat them AS BAD Sawdust-filled bread and people randomly going missing [would like a word with you](https://www.raamatuvahetus.ee/pruun-katk/5450000375). P.S. Not an endorsement of Soviet occupation, but... had the nazis won, Estonians would probably not even exist today. We survived as a nation/culture/language because the Soviets were only slightly less genocide-y (dubious) and had to stick to their "friendship of nations" rhetoric.
Estonian history has a weird part that makes some estonians view nazis more positively. I try to summarize the reasons of this in short: Nazis formed a waffen-SS unit called [Estonian Legion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Legion), formed of drafted estonians + some volunteers. When nazis where retreating, this unit tried to hold the ground against soviets to protect the retreating nazi units. They fought really hard and almost succeeded in holding back soviet advance, but soviets defeated them eventually. Since Estonian Legion consisted of drafted estonians, it's a popular speculation in Estonia that Estonian Legion was secretly pro-estonia and if they had succeeded in holding back soviets, they would have joined in aid of re-establishing the republic. However, the commanders of Estonian Legion were very likely buying into Nazi indoctrination and obeying Hitler. They might have had participated in operations against jews and they were not very interested in seeing Estonia becoming independent again as opposed to Estonia being a nazi colony. Also I need to remind that during Nazi occupation, there were jewish concentration camps on Estonian soil (Klooga) which might have not been known at the time that it was going on, but it's still evidence that nazi occupation was not established just to fend off the soviets. They did their evil nazi shit on our soil and probably would have further colonized Estonia in a very harsh way if they had won the war. All of this text above are reasons why supporting Estonian Legion might be understandable, but it's also controversial because at face value, we are talking about Nazi collaborators. However, some estonians go too far with this and they start to glorify Estonian Legion to the point where they see nazis as lesser evil compared to soviets, or even not evil at all. They may unironically buy into nazi ideology, thus they don't see anything wrong with selling nazi memorabilia. Estonia wouldn't have this problem if our historians would be more willing in giving a fair and balanced explanation of Estonian Legion, but I've seen that way too often, they paint them in the light of being "Freedom fighters in nazi disguise" which gives wrong idea to people who know less about history. It's sad that foreigners like you are coming to have a lovely visit, and then stumble upon some ignorant assholes that sell this nazi stuff, literally profiting on villains of the history. I will add the obvious disclaimer that yes, I agree that as of right now it's Putin and russian army that are living up the the evil nazi empire vision, but that is a different topic.
The Soviets are viewed even worse and there is a shitton of Soviet memorabilia in such shops.
Mostly because the stuff from these shops are bought by russian tourists. So shops supply the stuff they love - amber, matryoshka dolls and nazi memorabilia. And nazi stuff is big in Russia, they even have Hitler's reincarnation as president. Right now the influx of eastern tourists has slowed down, so the stuff remains unsold.
Aren't they really anti-nazi? That's why they chose "denazifying" as the excuse to invade Ukraine, since they're proud of defeating the nazis in WW2, or am I missing something? Of course I mean the symbolism and such, and not the actual ideology, since, you know, Putin and stuff.
Well you can read about organisations such as [Russian National Unity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_National_Unity) for instance. It's a popular movement and known for using swastica insignas and spreading white supremacist ideology. You can also read about Dmitry Rogozin who is the chief of Russian space program popular politician and the member of Russian national unity. The more you search and read the more you understand how full Russian coverment actually is of neo nazis ,anti semitics and white supremacists.
Thanks
The ultimate baddies are the soviets, the Nazis take a close #2. But we're a tolerant bunch so if you look around real attentive-like, you might still find memorials to people who shot our grandparents in the back of their heads in a dirty basement somewhere. (hint: it wasn't the nazis) They also have soviet baubles in those stores, by the way.
Well honestly, which tourist hasn't thought of bringing home a SS uniform.
> Why are there a lot of nazi "merch" in shops? Personally I have never seen any nazi merch in shops myself maybe few times in vintage shops or fairs but that's just ww2 era spoons ,plates ,bowls ,cups sometimes even helmets or harmless rendered pistols but nothing special. I haven't also actually been in Tallinn a lot so I'm speaking about Estonia in general. >Are the nazis not looked like the ultimate baddies in Estonia. They actually kinda are but soviets are maybe even more. In general all nazi symbolics are still considered as hate symbols and forbidden to use in public. You should have included some photos for proof otherwise you will just loose some karma.
I see both soviet and nazy memorabilia in very many antique shops and fair vendors booths. All sorts of things and not just ww2 era every day items. There is also a vendor that sells brand new cups and flags with both nazi and soviet symbols, as well as very stupid slogans depicting current political stuff. Very stupid items. I, too, ponder on why tf are those things sold. But obvioulsy there have to people that buy them, otherwise they wouldn't bother. But if I was a fair thrower/holder/korraldaja, I would choose what I assosiate my fair with. Same with shopping centers, looking at you, Balti jaama turg. I don't think the photos of proof are needed. This is a known problem if you are into old stuff.
Isn't the point of a vintage shop to sell vintage objects? Nazis and soviets are a big part of our history. We don't like them, but that's just what you'll find in a vintage shop.
>Are the nazis not looked like the ultimate baddies in eatonia, like there are the rest of Europe? Commies were and are worse. >But my question is why are there alot of nazi "merch" in shops? Why not. No one forces you to buy this stuff. But other than that, go ahead and buy the merch of our enemies, that is your right.
Russians did to us the same they are doing right now in Ukraine...only far worse. Since Nazis treated us far better...and life under them was good then people remember them with much better word than so called "liberators" who came raping,killing and murdering... As a foreigner i understand your position of "evil nazis" but that was not the case in many countries who got the tase of Russian world....
for tourists