Czech publisher produces 'Personalities of the Third Reich' 2021 calendar

A Czech publisher has come under fire after producing a "Personalities of the Third Reich" calendar, featuring a dozen leading Nazis, including Hitler, Himmler and Heydrich.

Both the Israeli and German embassies in Prague have condemned the 2021 calendar, which contains 12 black and white portraits, while an organisation representing Holocaust victims has filed a criminal complaint, claiming the publication breaks Czech laws prohibiting the promotion of movements that suppress human rights and freedoms.

Jan Hamacek, the Czech interior minister, also attacked the calendar calling it “tacky and immoral”.

Published by Nase Vojsko, which says in specialises in publishing materials “on military, historical and technical topics”, the calendar is listed for sale in its website for CZK 499 or £16.

“Products that glorify the worst criminals in human history are unbearable,” said Christoph Israng, the German ambassador to the Czech Republic. “I cannot understand why someone makes, sells or buys this trash.”

Taking to Twitter, Daniel Meron, the Israeli ambassador, wrote that he was “shocked and disgusted that such a calendar with Nazi war criminals is being sold.”

Michal Klima, chairman of the Foundation for Holocaust Victims said: “I find it intolerable that even in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazism, Nazi leaders are being legally promoted in this country.”

He added that he had filed a criminal complaint with the Czech police stating the calendar was promoting a system that suppresses human rights.

But Emerich Drtina, Nase Vojsko’s director, said he “was a businessman, not a Nazi” and defended the calendar.

“Every figure has a meaning in history,” he told Irozhlas, a Czech news website. “We do not want to be like it was under socialism when you were not allowed to write things. Ethically [the calendar] was on the edge, but I am not promoting anything here. Everything is done for profit.”

Despite the criminal complaint filed against it the firm may well escape prosecution.

Mr Hamacek said that while publishing the calendar demonstrated a complete lack of taste he did not believe it was a criminal act. His opinion could be based upon the difficulty of proving that promoting Nazism, rather than commercial gain, was the reason for publishing the calendar.

In the past Nase Vojsko has caused similar anger for selling Hitler and Himmler mugs, but has faced no legal action.