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Pete Evans opens up on 'neo-Nazi' controversy

Pete Evans has opened up on the 'neo-Nazi' controversy that saw his books pulled from shelves and his career in the TV and culinary world stall. The former My Kitchen Rules host was dropped from the show in May 2020 over his outspoken and skeptical views on Covid and government restrictions to curb the spread of the pandemic, such as telling people not to wear masks and not to trust vaccines. In November the same year, Evans found himself embroiled in another controversy after posting a cartoon on Instagram featuring a Nazi “black sun” symbol. The image, showing a caterpillar wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat speaking to a butterfly with the black sun on its wing, was quickly deleted with Evans saying he was unaware of the symbol’s meaning. Responding to the backlash, major retailers including Woolworths, Kmart and Target remove his books, while other businesses including publisher Pan Macmillan and kitchenware brand Baccarat also cut ties with Evans. On the Secrets of the Underworld podcast, Evans spoke out about the tumultuous year, saying it was a "coordinated attack" from businesses to cut ties with him. “It was a coordinated attack, it wasn’t just f**king out of the blue,” Evans told podcast host Neil Cummins. “Within the space of 24 hours, the 15 business partners I was involved with all pretty much publicly denounced me. For that to happen it has to be a co-ordinated effort from some party. I don’t know who or what, but it wasn’t like, ‘Pete f**ked up’, it was like, ‘Pete f**ked up, let’s put the attack dogs onto this.’” Evans suggested the cancellation was intended “to dissuade anybody else that may want to stand up against the vaccine or this that and the other thing”. “This is what we can do to somebody, so be good boys and girls, just go along with the agenda, don’t stick your head up because we will financially destroy you,’” he said. Evans admitted that he did share the Nazi symbol but its true meaning was “unbeknownst to me”. “I just saw the Donald Trump hat and thought it was funny, I had no idea it was a f**king neo-Nazi sign,” he said. “It was like, ‘Got him! We’ve been waiting for this moment. Now we can bring out the whole neo-Nazi, white supremacist [thing]. We’ve got him now. We’re going to use this and pressure all his business partners, that you cannot be associated with this man anymore.’” Evans stressed that “just for the record, I’m not a neo-Nazi, never have been, never will be, I love all cultures, all cuisines, I respect everybody, every race”. “It’s so ridiculous people fell for that … that anybody could ever consider that I would be a neo-Nazi, it’s beyond ridiculous,” he said. Image credits: Instagram

Legal

Sam Newman controversy explodes

Sam Newman and 'neo-Nazi' Blair Cottrell have come to blows online in the wake of fierce backlash over a controversial podcast. Newman found himself under heavy scrutiny on Monday after sharing a photo with two men - Thomas Sewell and Blair Cottrell - in <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-newman-photo-sparks-immediate-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promotion</a> of the latest episode of his You Cannot Be Serious podcast. Part one of the episode was released on Tuesday, which saw Newman quickly turn on Cottrell online. Newman elaborates how he had sought out Sewell for a conversation but notes Cottrell had “accompanied him” and that he “wasn’t invited”. “I interviewed two people I thought were of interest because I had never heard of them until the media kept showing them coming out of court and putting them in the paper,” Newman said. “I reached out to one of them, I reached out to a bloke called Thomas Sewell and I said ‘would you like to come in and be interviewed?’. A man accompanied him called Blair Cottrell who wasn’t invited, he was an interloper." “He sat where you are Ivan and he turned out to be a turd, he turned out to be an opportunist. He posted today that maybe the Foss was one of us all along or something like that." “Blair is a scumbag. He is a 24-carat gold scumbag." “As I said he wasn’t invited and he thought he is a star f***er. He thought he would link me to his cause and he’s posted pictures of me on the Footy Show and then put Nazi photos in the background trying to link me to his cause." “Thomas Sewell was responsible, as in he was here because I asked him to be here." “Cottrell turned up and in his pissy little world that he lives in, his diminutive pissy little world where he can’t make it on his own he tries to link people with stronger juices. He’s a parasite. So that’s him." “I have plenty of people who are friends of mine who are Jewish and many who are Muslim, I do not have any friends who are Nazis or neo-Nazis. None.” The remarks from Newman didn’t sit well with Cottrell who took to social media to share his side of the story. He explained that he drove Sewell to the podcast studio, and after meeting Newman, he was invited to sit in on the recording and chime in to the conversation. “Now Sam is apparently declaring me an uninvited interloper and that I somehow took advantage of him," Cottrell wrote. “If Sam wants to play it safe in the future, he should stick to platforming drug dealers, prostitutors and murderers, he won’t cop any flak for that because these characters are no serious threat to the establishment. You wanted controversy Sam, and you got it.” Image credits: Getty Images / X (Twitter)

Legal

Sam Newman photo sparks immediate backlash

Sam Newman has come under fire for promoting a new episode of his podcast that features two prominent 'neo Nazis' as guests. The AFL legend, who hosts the You Cannot Be Serious podcast, made headlines after posting a photo of himself with Blair Cottrell and Thomas Sewell to promote the latest episode. “Today Thomas Sewell and I had a chat with footy icon Sam Newman. Keep an out for the podcast!” Cottrell captioned the photo of the trio. Cottrell was the first ever Australian to be charged with hate speech after he was convicted in September 2017, and Sewell was listed as one of more than a dozen alleged neo-Nazis following a protest in Adelaide on January 26th. Cottrell, who is the United Patriots Front leader, was convicted alongside two of his supporters for inciting hatred, contempt and ridicule of Muslims after making a video beheading a dummy in protest of a Bendigo mosque. Sewell is the Victorian-based leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN), who has railed against “corrupt police” and an “anti-white government” in an online fundraiser which he hopes will allow him to “transition into a full-time role”. While the episode of Newman's podcast doesn't air until Wednesday, the photo was enough to welcome a wave of scrutiny towards Newman. CODE Sports’ chief cricket writer Daniel Cherny asked on X if the promotion of two prominent neo-Nazis was “enough to be booted out of the Australian Football Hall of Fame?” Hundreds of fans agreed, with many taking to social media to ask how the AFL, and Newman's former club the Geelong Cats, would respond to the men being given a platform. One person wrote: “I’m wondering if consorting with out and proud Nazis is enough of a blot on your copybook to be removed from the AFL Hall of Fame? What do you reckon, AFL? How about you, Geelong Cats?” Hours after the image of the trio was posted, Newman took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a statement claiming he had been asked to not publish the episode, which he has denied. “I interviewed Thomas Sewell and Blair Cottrell … neo-Nazis on You Cannot Be Serious podcast,” Newman said. “I haven’t posted it yet but I was asked by a journalist because Blair Cottrell posted a picture of him and me and Thomas Sewell on X and I’m associated now with being a neo-Nazi." “I replied to the journalist who said is it appropriate to put this on and chat about who they are and I said I by no means condone what they’re on but I thought they’re people of interest and I’m going to put it to air." “If you think I’m a Nazi, so be it. Why don’t you have a look at what they say and what I ask them and you make your mind up.” Image credits: X (Twitter)

Legal

Neighbours star under investigation after alleged Nazi salute

Former Neighbours star Damien Richardson is under investigation by police after allegedly performing a Nazi salute at an event in September. Richardson, who played Gary Canning in seven seasons of Neighbours, was recorded performing the gesture during a speech at an event run by the National Workers Alliance (NWA), who bills itself as a nationalist organisation dedicated to the "preservation of Western Culture and Identity". <div> </div> In an excerpt of his speech, which was aired as part of an ABC 7.30 investigation into the rise of the far-right movement in Australia, the actor is heard stating, "There is a war on men". "I thought it was a war on Western tradition, Western values… and actually it's an anti-white-male-agenda," the actor said at the event. He is then seen appearing to perform a Nazi salute and mockingly asking if he would be locked up for it, saying, “Am I allowed to do that? Am I allowed to do that, or am I going to be fined now? Am I going to go to jail for five years?” “Oh, Richardson did the salute. I mean, really. I mean this is absurd. This is insane. It’s crazy. It’s so crazy you can’t believe it’s even happening.” In October 2023, laws came into effect making it an offence to perform a Nazi salute in public or in public view. A person who commits an <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/fact-sheet-nazi-symbol-prohibition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offence</a> could face fines of $23,000, 12 months in prison, or both. Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident, saying in a statement, “Police are investigating vision which shows a person performing a Nazi salute, believed to be in Victoria." “The circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing.” While Richardson's actions were applauded by neo-Nazi organisation National Socialist Network (NSN), both Richardson and the organiser of the NWA said they are not neo-Nazis. "There has been a lot of misinformation spoken about the event, Damien, the National Workers Alliance and myself," Matt Trihey told the ABC. "Neither Damien or I have ever been members of Nazi organisations and we have no connection with the NSN. I am a free speech advocate and have no control over who purchases online tickets to my events." Image credits: ABC

Legal

Readers response: Is there any item of memorabilia you’ve passed down to family or plan to in the future?

As in many families, there are often sentimental items and memorabilia that are passed down from several generations. We asked our readers if there are any heirlooms that they have passed down to their younger family members, or if they plan to, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Marjorie Gale - The christening gown made by my Aunt in the UK in 1955 for my eldest daughter, worn by my two other daughters. Now been worn by my 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, and another due soon. So far 24 babies have worn it. Dawn Douglas - Yes, I have my Mums jewellery box and my eldest daughter will get it when I’m gone. I also have a brooch that belonged to my Nana. Sue Crawley - I have a 1925 gold embossed book by AA Milne “When We Were Very Young”. My most cherished memory was sitting on my great grandfathers knee whilst he read it to me. Not sure yet which grandchild will receive it. Greg Browning - A Winchester rifle my great grandfather bought in the 1800s. Have already passed it on. Marion Ingram - Family bassinets. Now on its 4th generation! Margie Buckingham - My grandmother’s costume jewellery was stunning. She was a racehorse breeder always in the Flemington Racecourse members, even had many Group One winners, so her jewellery had to look special. Paul Uttley - A silver pocket knife that belonged to my great grandfather now belongs to my oldest grandson (six generations apart)! Image credits: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Readers response: What piece of travel memorabilia brings back the best memories for you?

When we travel, many of us love to pick up a souvenir to remind us of our holidays and the destinations we loved. We asked our readers what piece of travel memorabilia brings back the best memories, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Jan Hall - Christmas Decorations! Then when I put my tree up it’s like a trip down memory lane, first one was 1973 from Singapore our first overseas holiday. Debra Stone - A letter opener with a Paua shell on the handle. New Zealand wouldn't let us take it in our luggage, so we posted it home to ourselves! Becky Murfet - In 1984 we went to Europe and I collected match boxes from different countries. Have them in a large glass bowl. Great to look at for memories sake. Caron Castner - Stines from Germany. Margie Buckingham - A palm-sided wooden carved elephant from a side trip off my cruise from Singapore to Malaysia & Thailand and back to celebrate my 40th. It sits on my mantelpiece so to deliberately trigger good memories of a younger me. Frank Nieuwenhuis - 2300 year old oil lamp bought in Israel. Fay Russell - Turkish tea set. Valma Blake - Of all the things I've bought on my travels, my favourite is my cat ornament collection that are decorated relative to the country or area I visited. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

99-year-old woman declared accessory to over 10,000 murders

A court in Germany has upheld the conviction of a 99-year-old woman who, during the Second World War, was the secretary to the SS commander at a Nazi concentration camp. The Federal Justice Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of Irmgard Furchner, who was convicted of being an accessory to more than 10,000 murders and was given a two-year suspended sentence in December 2022. Furchner was accused of being a key part of the apparatus that helped the camp near Danzig, now the Polish city of Gdansk, function, and was subsequently convicted of being an accessory to murder in 10,505 cases and an accessory to attempted murder in five cases. At a federal court hearing in Leipzig in July, Furchner's lawyers cast doubt on whether she really was an accessory to crimes committed by the commander and other senior camp officials between 1943 and 1945, and on whether she had truly been aware of what was going on at Stutthof. The court said that judges were convinced that Furchner “knew and, through her work as a stenographer in the commandant’s office of the Stutthof concentration camp from June 1st 1943, to April 1st 1945, deliberately supported the fact that 10,505 prisoners were cruelly killed by gassings, by hostile conditions in the camp,” by transportation to the Auschwitz death camp and by being sent on death marches at the end of the war. Germany's main Jewish leader welcomed the ruling. “For Holocaust survivors, it is enormously important for a late form of justice to be attempted,” Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews, said in statement. “The legal system sent an important message today: even nearly 80 years after the Holocaust, no line can be drawn under Nazi crimes,” he added. During the original court proceedings, prosecutors said that Furchner’s trial may be the last of its kind, however, a special federal prosecutors’ office in Ludwigsburg tasked with investigating Nazi-era war crimes says three more cases are pending with prosecutors or courts in various parts of Germany. With any suspects now at a very advanced age, questions increasingly arise over suspects’ fitness to stand trial. Image credits: Sky News

Legal

Crowd cheers as fan booted from US Open after vile Nazi slur

During a US Open tennis match held early on Tuesday morning, a spectator found themselves ejected from the event following an incident involving German tennis player Alexander Zverev. The disruption arose when Zverev, seeded number 12, was locked in a fierce fourth-set battle against Italy's Jannik Sinner, seeded number six. At a critical juncture in the match, just as he was about to serve, Zverev approached chair umpire James Keothavong and pointed out a fan situated right behind the umpire's chair. Zverev raised the issue, stating, "He [the fan] just said the most famous Hitler phrase there is..." Zverev then expressed his strong disapproval, exclaiming, "It's unacceptable, this is unbelievable." In response to Zverev's concerns, Keothavong scanned the crowd and repeatedly asked, "Who said that? Who said that?" amid raucous boos from the audience. The umpire swiftly made a decision, asserting, "We're going to get him out," much to the relief of those watching in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Keothavong also took a moment to remind the crowd to maintain respect for both players. Shortly after, during a changeover, spectators seated near the offending fan identified him, and security promptly removed him from the venue. The crowd responded with cheers as the fan was escorted up the stadium stairs. A US Tennis Association spokesperson, Chris Widmaier, confirmed the incident, stating, "A disparaging remark was directed toward Alexander Zverev. The fan was identified and escorted from the stadium." Despite the disruption, Zverev went on to triumph over Sinner in a gruelling five-set match and secured his spot in the quarterfinals, where he would face the defending US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz. This epic match, which Zverev won with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, endured for an impressive four hours and 41 minutes, making it the lengthiest match of the tournament up to that point. The contest concluded at 1:40 am local time in New York. Reflecting on the incident in the post-match press conference, Zverev revealed that while he had encountered fans making derogatory comments before, this was the first time he had experienced an incident involving Hitler. He shared: "He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back in the day. It was ‘Deutschland über alles’ and it was a bit too much. "I think he was getting involved in the match for a long time, though. I don’t mind it, I love when fans are loud, I love when fans are emotional. But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it’s not really a great thing to do and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don’t react, I think it’s bad from my side.” Despite the disturbance, Zverev remained composed and noted, “It’s his loss, to be honest, to not witness the final two sets of that match.” Image: Getty Images

News

“It was a terrible mistake”: NSW premier admits to wearing Nazi costume

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has admitted in a televised press conference that he dressed up in a Nazi uniform at his 21st “fancy dress” themed birthday party. During the press conference, Mr Perrottet said he chose to make the public admission after being called by a colleague two days ago who said they knew about the costume. “When it was raised to me two days ago, I realised I needed to tell the truth and not someone else,” he told reporters. Mr Perrottet also revealed that no-one else at the party wore Nazi garb, and that his mother and father – who also attended the party – told him the next day that his choice of costume was “in poor taste”. In an interview with 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Perrottet clarified he did not dress up as Adolf Hitler and did not wear a fake moustache. Mr Perrottet said that he was unaware whether any images existed of him wearing the costume, but that he wanted to address the “massive mistake”. He said he was “deeply ashamed” of the decision and apologised for the hurt it would cause the wider community: “I wish I could go back in time and do that day again.” The premier admitted he studied World War II history in school and had Jewish friends at 21 but says he was “naive” and did not realise the gravity of his actions. “It was a terrible mistake at that age in my life, I just did not understand the gravity and the hurt of what that uniform means to people not just in our state but around the country and around the world,” he continued. Mr Perrottet said he had considered addressing the incident several times in the past and was aware that it was important the revelation came from him to apologise for “the hurt and the pain this is going to cause”. “When it was raised with me I didn’t want this difficult truth of a grave and terrible mistake that I made at my 21st birthday party to be told by someone else,” he said. “I have grappled with this. It has been something that’s personally anguished me.” In response, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies posted a statement on their Facebook page and said they hoped the incident would “serve as a lesson” and reminder of the “abhorrent nature of the Nazi regime”. They also said Nazi symbolism should “not to be taken lightly and dressing as a Nazi is not a joke”. “We appreciate that the Premier personally reached out to the Jewish community this afternoon to express his deep and sincere regret about his poor choice of costume as a young man,” the post reads. “The Premier has been a staunch supporter and friend of the NSW Jewish community throughout his time in public life. In particular, as Treasurer, he ensured the Sydney Jewish Museum received funding to ensure that it could continue educating the community about the Holocaust and the horrors of the Nazi era. “The Premier has acknowledged this, recognising that wearing the costume was offensive and will distress many in our community.” The premier has also said he has spoken with Jewish leaders and would continue to apologise to the community. “I’ve become a very passionate supporter of the Jewish community,” he said. The revelation comes just months after Mr Perrottet spoke out strongly against a group of soccer fans who were spotted throwing Nazi salutes at the Australia Cup final, saying there should be lifetime bans for the act. “What we saw the other day was terrible. It was absolutely horrendous,” he said in October. “It has no place, not just at sporting games, but anywhere in our state.” Image: Twitter

News

State-run German museums disclose works acquired during Nazi era

A Munich-based foundation that oversees the art collections of museums located throughout the titular German state is set to publicly disclose the origins of over 1,000 works acquired during the Nazi rule. The Bavarian State Painting Collections is launching an extensive database that includes information regarding over 1,200 paintings that researchers have found were acquired during the National Socialist period, or had ownership links to Nazi officials. There are a series of artworks that were given to museums and galleries during this time that are often subject to legal claims from descendants of persecuted Jewish families. Operating since 1999, a specialised unit dedicated to origin research has been reviewing all the ownership records of each and every artwork in the Bavarian State Paintings Collections that were created before 1945, and have been acquired since 1933. Throughout the database notes, a statement will accompany each artwork to alert people of its proper origins. This protocol is in keeping with the 1998 Washington Principles and the 1999 Joint Declaration of the Federal Government, both of which mounted calls for greater transparency surrounding the provenances of artworks believed to be subject to restitution claims. Other initiatives have been put into practice around the world, with <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/new-york-museums-now-required-to-acknowledge-art-stolen-under-nazi-rule">museums and galleries in New York</a> now now legally required to acknowledge art stolen under the Nazi regime. The new state law requires New York museums to display signage alongside works of art from before 1945 that are known to have been stolen or forcibly sold during the Nazi rule. According to legislation and expert testimony, the Germans looted 600,000 works of art during World War II. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

New York museums now required to acknowledge art stolen under Nazi rule

Museums and art galleries in New York are now legally required to acknowledge art stolen under the Nazi regime. The new state law requires New York museums to display signage alongside works of art from before 1945 that are known to have been stolen or forcibly sold during the Nazi rule. According to legislation and expert testimony, the Germans looted 600,000 works of art during World War II. As well as the new public recognition law, works that were created before 1945 that changed ownership in Nazi Europe are now required to be registered in the <a href="https://www.artloss.com/about-us/">Art Loss Register</a>, a private database of more than 700,000 works of lost, stolen and looted art. Over the last few decades, museums in New York have been at the centre of discussions of who has rightful ownership of artworks that changed hands during the Nazi era. Both the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have gone a step further, and returned artworks stolen by the Nazis to surviving members of the families who owned them before they were looted during World War II. Despite this, several New York museums have also successfully fought to keep allegedly looted art from the Nazi era in their halls. In 2021, a federal appeals court ruled that the Metropolitan Museum of Art can keep a $100 million Picasso painting that the family of the previous owner says was sold to fund the owner's escape from Nazi Germany. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

101-year-old reunited with painting looted by Nazis

A Nazi-looted painting has been returned to its owner after being lost for 75 years. 101-year-old Dutch woman Charlotte Bischoff van Heemskerck was reunited with the 1638 portrait of the Dutch merchant Steven Wolters, which was stolen by the Nazis during the occupation of The Netherlands in World War II. The painting had once hung in Charlotte’s childhood bedroom and was a much-loved possession of her father, who went into hiding after refusing to accept Nazi orders. Charlotte’s father had stored the painting in the Amsterdam Bank to protect it, where it was later stolen, along with countless other works, by Nazi invaders. The portrait was then lost for decades before being acquired by a private collector in Germany in 1971, where negotiations with the collector led to the painting being returned to Bischoff van Heemskerck in 2021. Recalling the moment that she saw it again, she told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/12/i-am-amazed-101-year-old-dutch-woman-reunited-with-painting-looted-by-nazis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR1Xn3-h5Nt_HwsEJ3yE8S-HXjc1A0iw5paSLZEQ2JUEp3h1P7pMSWi3JC4">Guardian</a>, “I was amazed.” Charlotte’s father died in 1969, but she said he would have been “so happy that it came back”. After treasuring the painting in her possession for six months, the family have decided to sell the portrait at Sotheby’s auction house in London, where it is expected to sell for between $50,000 and $90,000. She said: “I had five brothers and sisters. There are 20 offspring and they are very sweet, so I never had the feeling that it was mine. It’s from the family.” Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Man spends $7,000 on royal piece of cake

A man has spent almost $8,000 on a piece of cake from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding. Avid royal fan Gerry Layton from Yorkshire in the UK purchased the 41-year-old large slice of cake which came from one of the 23 wedding cakes used at the couple’s wedding in 1981. The 62-year-old first bought the piece of cake for £2170 ($3840) at an auction last year in August before deciding to donate it to a local charity ball auction. It was only last week that the slice of memorabilia which has the royal coat of arms in gold, red, blue and silver went up for auction again and Gerry realised he hadn’t even tasted it. "After some free champagne, I suddenly got the urge and thought 'I haven't even had a bite of it yet'," he told The Yorkshire Post. This time round, Gerry paid £2100 ($3700) for the cake and said “I don't care if it kills me” but he will taste it. "It's 41 years old but I definitely am going to have a bite." Gerry has not ruled out donating the piece of cake again but only after he has tasted it. Dave Avery who was the head baker of the Royal Navy said he had met up with Princess Diana before her big day. "She said to me, 'I want a wedding cake and not a monument', so she was quite happy. "There was nothing much [known] about Diana, so it ended up being more of a naval type of cake – all I could do was the Spencer crest.” Images: Twitter

Money & Banking

Art gallery investigates links to Holocaust

The Wollongong Art Gallery in New South Wales is grappling with shocking new revelations that a major donor with a gallery named after him may have been a Nazi collaborator before emigrating to Australia from Lithuania. Bronius "Bob" Sredersas donated approximately 100 works by revered Australian artists to the gallery in 1976, just six years before he died. Despite working as a steelworker at Port Kembla, he saved his money to meticulously collect valuable paintings. However, after the gallery’s 40th birthday celebrations in 2018, which also celebrated the central role Sredersas played in its establishment, former councillor Michael Samaras noticed he was described as a policeman for the Lithuanian government's Department of Security. The councillor found the findings suspicious and decided to investigate further. "When all the publicity happened for the 40th anniversary of the gallery there was media, including on the ABC Illawarra webpage, about the fact that he was a policeman in Lithuania before the war," he said. "And I just knew from general knowledge that a lot of the police from Lithuania ended up in what was called the Auxiliary Police Battalion, which actually did much of the killing in the Holocaust.” "The Wollongong City Library local studies section has a whole three boxes of material on him so I got his birth certificate." In uncovering these devastating claims, the Wollongong council, who owns the gallery, has been put on the back foot, with Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery receiving letters from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies who have offered to help work with the council to investigate. "That has to be dealt with in a way that does not hide the past, recognises the allegations if they are proven and how we deal with the Sredersas Collection and how that's represented or interpreted," Mr Bradbery said. While the investigation is ongoing, Dr Efraim Zuroff, director of the Jewish human rights organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, has suggested council remove the name of Bob Sredersas from the gallery in the meantime. He said, "I think it's important that a decision is made to remove his name as it's basically a statement that we do not want to honour people who participate in the crimes of the Holocaust." Image credits: Wollongong City Council

Art

Clive Palmer buys Adolf Hitler's Mercedes from Russian billionaire

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has made headlines for the second time in just a week, after two years of negotiations resulted in him <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/politics/clive-palmer/clive-palmer-purchases-adolf-hitlers-mercedes-benz-for-gold-coast-museum--c-5859570" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purchasing</a> Adolf Hitler’s bulletproof Mercedes Benz from an unnamed Russian billionaire. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/nazi-car1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Clive Palmer has purchased a vehicle belonging to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Image: Getty Images Palmer bought the Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser Offener Tourenwagen - which features bulletproof glass and armoured panelling - for a museum of vintage cars he hopes to build in Queensland. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Clive Palmer is really that Texan billionaire from The Simpsons <a href="https://t.co/CrylLGLKZ6">https://t.co/CrylLGLKZ6</a> <a href="https://t.co/n8hnWtSrNy">pic.twitter.com/n8hnWtSrNy</a> — Evan Smith (@evanishistory) <a href="https://twitter.com/evanishistory/status/1498145874030915586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote> The car was seized by US forces in France at the end of WWII, and has had several owners before Palmer claimed ownership. It was previously listed for auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2018 and was <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/news/19072/hitlers-parade-car-bought-by-anonymous-buyer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> sold to an unknown buyer outside of the United States. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/nazi-car2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The car was last sold in 2018 at an auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, to an unknown buyer. Image: Getty Images He also purchased a 1929 Rolls-Royce owned by King Edward VIII which is also expected to end up in his car museum. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Australian oligarch buys dictator & mass murderer's car from Russian oligarch amid worldwide sanctions against Russia- telling us exactly who he is & what he really cares about. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moralwasteland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moralwasteland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/j13JSpiMpj">https://t.co/j13JSpiMpj</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/newscomauHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@newscomauHQ</a> — Diana (@ElephantFlowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElephantFlowers/status/1498082458969178112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2022</a></blockquote> The vehicle - which many online have dubbed “Nazi memorabilia” - was secretly shipped from London to Queensland and is now being kept at a high-security location. Though the final purchase price hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed to have cost Mr Palmer more than $200,000. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I cannot believe I have posted twice in one day about my 2022 bingo card but here we are. Clive Palmer buying Adolf Hitlers mercedes from a Russian billionaire was *definitely* not on my bingo card and I feel that whoever is writing this season of our lives has jumped the shark. — Dr Kate Miller (@DrKate_Miller) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrKate_Miller/status/1498098388919013377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote> The purchase comes after the unvaccinated United Australia Party member <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/clive-palmer-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made headlines</a> last week when he and his wife were rushed to hospital with Covid-like symptoms. Three ambulances reportedly arrived at their Paradise Point home in Queensland on Thursday morning, taking the 67-year-old and his wife Annastacia to Pindara Private Hospital. Image: Getty Images

News

QEII's Platinum Jubilee memorabilia ruined by major typo

More than 10,000 items of royal memorabilia have been printed with a small, but very costly mistake. The cups, mugs and plates were commissioned by a British company to commemorate the Queen's upcoming Platinum Jubilee, but were printed with a glaring typo. Below a picture of Her Majesty, the words “To commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II”, were meant to be printed.But instead, it read, “To commemorate the Platinum Jubbly of Queen Elizabeth II.”The typo is believed to be a result fo a translation error at a Chinese factory where the memorabilia was being manufactured. Due to the error, the items commemorating the Queen's 70 year reign were unable to be used for official use, and were bought by a wholesale company in the UK and listed for sale. “The manufacturers produced some wonderful souvenir items in an attempt to muscle in on the Queen’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee but were left high and dry when their fulfilment Partner in the UK decided they would not take the souvenir stock due to a translation error,” <a href="https://www.wholesaleclearance.co.uk/queens-platinum-jubliee-jubbly-souvenir-stock-with-slight-typo-mistake.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Wholesale Clearance UK</a> said.The typo made the hosts of Sunrise laugh at the error on Thursday morning. “Love that” Natalie Barr said with a laugh.“Does jubbly mean the same in the UK as sort of the slang here in Australia?” Kochie asked, to which Natalie replied she’d never heard of the term.Kochie then quickly shut down questioning, denying he knew the definition of the word.The UK is set to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.Image credits: Wholesale Clearance UK

Money & Banking

Outrage over Nazi flag used at funeral

Italian Catholic and Jewish officials have condemned an outrageous act of right wing extremism, as a flag with a swastika was placed on a coffin outside a church after a funeral, as mourners in attendance gave Nazi salutes. Rome's Catholic archdiocese shared a statement that said priests at the parish of St. Lucy in a neighbourhood in central Rome, including the one who presided at the funeral, had no idea the stunt would happen. Pictures have surfaced on the internet of the coffin bearing the body of Alessia Augello, a former member of the right-wing extremist group Forza Nuova, covered by the Nazi flag. The diocese statement called the flag "a horrendous symbol that cannot be reconciled with Christianity" and said the stunt was an offensive example of "ideological exploitation" of a religious service. Italian police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. The Jewish community of Rome have expressed their outrage and devastation that such events could still happen more than 70 years after the Holocaust and the fall of Italy's fascist dictatorship. <div class="block-content"> <div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">"It is unacceptable that a flag with a swastika can still be shown in public in this day and age, especially in a city that saw the deportation of its Jews by the Nazis and their fascist collaborators," the statement said.</div> </div> The Jewish community statement said the funeral incident was "even more outrageous because it took place in front of a church." In October 1943, a raid on Rome's Jewish neighbourhood saw more than 1,000 of the capital's Jewish people deported to the Auschwitz death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Only 16 people returned. Image credits: Getty Images / CNN

Travel Trouble

Broadcaster apologises for offensive bungle

A Dutch public broadcaster has been forced to apologise for wrongly subtitling the German national anthem using Nazi-era lyrics while it was being played before the team’s Euro 2020 match against England. NPO issued the apology on Twitter, with the account saying “the wrong verse was accidentally shown” and apologising to viewers who were offended by the error during the match on the morning of Wednesday, June 30 (AEST). “During the live subtitling of the German national anthem at the European Championship match England-Germany, the wrong verse was displayed by mistake,” NPO said on Twitter. “This was a mistake by one of our subtitlers. We apologise to viewers who were disturbed by this.” The verse beginning with the words “Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles” was removed in 1945 following the end of World War II due to its association with the Nazi regime. The lyrics include the line “Germany, above all, above everything in the world” - which summed up Hitler’s desire to take over the world. Image: NPO

Mind

Royal memorabilia once owned by Prince William and Kate is up for grabs

An impressive piece of royal memorabilia is up for grabs. The personal vehicle of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a black Range Rover, is up for auction. The pricey item has been labelled as a “rare opportunity to acquire a vehicle with royal roots”. Prince William and Duchess Kate used the luxury vehicle in 2013 – the same year Prince George was born. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829433/prince-george-gallery.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c39db37e9b14b68afc80c1996819c99" /> It is now being offered by auction house Bonhams with the expectation for it to sell between $54,000 - $72,000. The car has been billed as an “ex-royal household” vehicle and even comes with its original number plate. "Usually, Land Rovers and Range Rovers used by the Royal Household have the vehicle registration numbers changed once out of service, making it difficult to confirm their famous history," the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26808/preview_lot/5450856/" target="_blank" title="listing on Bonhams' website">listing on Bonhams' website</a> reads. Range Rovers and Land Rovers have long been popular choices for the royal family. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840875/william-kate-range-rover-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2719de4bf3b74a31bba2f969d5c75146" /> "Overall we are told the car is in excellent condition and drives very well, presenting itself as a rare opportunity to acquire a vehicle with Royal roots," the listing says. The car isn't being sold by William and Kate, as it was purchased in July 2020, from a used car dealership before it came into Bonhams’ possession. The late Prince Philip’s 2016-plated Range Rover was up for sale back in 2018 with the eye-watering price of $234,340. The vehicle was fit out with custom features, including covert lighting and police emergency lights, along with grab handles for the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840876/william-kate-range-rover.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/321473e48dce4823b4ccd438cd055b81" /> Most notably, the same vehicle was used by Prince Philip to pick up then-US President Barack Obama during a state visit to the United Kingdom back in 2016.

Money & Banking

100-year-old man charged with 3,518 murders in WWII

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> German prosecutors have charged a 100-year-old man with 3,518 counts of accessory to murder after allegations the man served during the second world war as a Nazi SS guard at a concentration camp. He is alleged to have worked at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1942 and 1945. The man's name has not been released in line with Germany privacy laws, but Cyrill Klement, the lead investigator, believes that the man was an enlisted member of the Nazi party's paramilitary wing. Despite being 100, the man is considered fit enough to stand trial, but accommodations may have to be made to limit how many hours a day the court is in session, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/man-100-charged-in-germany-over-3518-nazi-concentration-camp-murders" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>. “The advanced age of the defendants is no excuse to ignore them and allow them to live in the peace and tranquillity they denied their victims,” Efraim Zuroff of the Simon Wiesenthal Center said. The case was handed to the Neuruppin office in 2019 by the special federal prosecutors' office in Ludwigsburg, which is tasked with investigating Nazi-era war crimes. The case against the 100-year-old man relies on a recently set legal precedent in Germany that establishes anyone who helped a Nazi camp function can be prosecuted for accessory to the murders that were committed there. The court has not yet set a date for the trial. </div> </div> </div>

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Royal memorabilia once owned by Prince William and Kate is up for grabs

100-year-old man charged with 3,518 murders in WWII

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