Defence officials in Australia have condemned a leaked photo of an army vehicle flying a Nazi flag.
The image, taken in Afghanistan in 2007, shows an Australian Army jeep flying a large red and white banner with a black swastika at its centre, a flag synonymous with the Third Reich and Nazi atrocities.
The Australian broadcaster ABC published the previously-unseen photo today, alongside expert analysis asserting that it had not been digitally altered.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Australian defence ministry confirmed the authenticity of the photo, which has been met with outrage in the country and beyond.
“The flag was briefly raised above an Australian Army vehicle in Afghanistan in 2007,” a spokesperson said, adding that the commanding officer on the scene “took immediate action to have the offensive flag taken down”.
“The personnel involved were immediately cautioned at the time and subsequently received further counselling.
“Additionally, steps were taken to reinforce education and training for all personnel who witnessed the flag.”
In a statement, defence minister Marise Payne said the actions of the soldiers involved were “completely at odds with the values of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the tens of thousands of ADF personnel who have served with distinction in Afghanistan”.
A source familiar with the incident told the ABC it had been intended as a "twisted joke” rather than a show of support for fascism.
The scandal comes as Australian forces’ conduct during their time as a member of the US-led coalition battling the Taliban in Afghanistan is under intense public and official scrutiny.
“Their behaviour between 2005 and 2016, including accusations that they used illegal force and showed a disregard for human life during missions, is being investigated by defense authorities,” Reuters.
-
Homo Floresiensis: Earth’s real life ‘hobbits’Under the Radar New research suggests that ‘early human pioneers’ in Australia interbred with archaic species of hobbits at least 60,000 years ago
-
Homes by renowned architectsFeature Featuring a Leonard Willeke Tudor Revival in Detroit and modern John Storyk design in Woodstock
-
Looming drone ban has farmers and farm-state Republicans anxiousIN THE SPOTLIGHT As congressional China-hawks work to limit commercial drone sales from Beijing, a growing number of conservative lawmakers are sounding an agricultural alarm
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
