Friday, November 1, 2013

Traces of Nazism in Lebanon

First there was the Swastika on a wall - then there was the Hitler mural tucked in a dead end alley leading to a home, and now - in the book A Century of journalism in Lebanon 1858-1958 I found this ad for "Nasr Blades"
The ad headlines "Heil Hitler" (yes, nothing short of the Nazi salute). And goes on to announce "Here it is! The second shipment has of the Nasr German golden blades has arrived. Nasr blade is the only German blade which was used by Herr Hitler and all the leaders of the German army. Made of pure German steel hurry up and use it to get a clean and comfortable shave. Nasr blades sold in all major shops."
Before you drop your jaw on this, just consider that Phalangists or Kataeb were inspired by the Nazi youth when Pierre Gemayel saw them in the 1936 Olympics in Germany (last year they decided to keep the official Nazi salute as part of their rituals). Further, during the second world war, and since the Lebanese have a history of 1) standing with whomever is winning 2) considering that an enemy's enemy is a friend, it is a small wonder that in Tripoli there was chant that said "Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler! Bla Monsieur Bla Mister" - Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler! No Monsieur, no Mister - since Monsieur and Mister are the words used in French and English, therefore not supporting the allied and the colonialism at the time passed by endorsing Nazism.

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