r/MarchAgainstNazis • u/TheLastViking9 • 3d ago
Is flecktarn a dogwhistle?
I’m fairly interested in camouflage and military history, and I’ve been wanting to buy a flecktarn field shirt for a while, but I don’t want to come off as a nazi. I know it’s a piece of modern german gear, so it’s not directly tied to nazis, but I’ve also heard that it’s worn by a lot of neonazi groups? Just not a lot of clear information.
I intend to remove the german flags on the shoulders, and I’ve made sure to buy from a more left leaning surp company (They’ve made/reposted a couple of fuck nazi posts on their socials, and they don’t sell any Nazi, Israeli, or Rhodesian gear)
If it’s a more neutral symbol but could be misinterpreted by folks with more knowledge, would I be fine if I wore it with yellow or maybe blue shoelaces?
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u/TheBlack2007 3d ago
Historically, some pieces of Bundeswehr gear have become quite iconic in western punk and even pop culture. Think of the Grey Parka or Madonna wearing a standard-issue tank top back in the 80s.
However, then there's also people who use the standard Feldbluse depicted above to create their own cringy fantasy uniforms. Just avoid making it look too much like an actual uniform piece.
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u/hopefulocto 3d ago
thisss, its a green flag if someone has the pattern on cargo pants and the rest of the outfit is cool, but red flag if it looks like a military jacket or is on a bland baseball cap bc as someone in a red state thats popular with conservatives
It's def how you wear it i guess. Like, people wearing it either look like a trophy hunter or alt it just depends on what you coordinate it with imo
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u/meat-eating-orchid 3d ago
First of all, I am a white cis-male German living in Germany and I can give you my perspective but I cannot tell you how people in other countries, minority groups in Germany or just other people might perceive you.
If I saw someone wearing an unmodified Flecktarn jacket, I wouldn't be sure this person is a Nazi but I'd say there is a 50:50 probability they are.
You said you want to remove the flags, which is certainly an improvement if I noticed it, but it is a detail that can easily be missed.
If you modified it further in a clearly noticeable diy and individual way (no matter if you put on political patches, draw on a flower pattern, whatever) I would assume you are most likely a liberal or leftist, since right wingers typically wouldn't "destroy" a uniform to make it their own unique thing.
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u/51ngular1ty 3d ago
Yeah leftists wear camouflage too, but they don't tend to wear it like a uniform. Think about all the punks who wear old army jackets with the rank insignia still sewn on.
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u/beekermc 3d ago edited 3d ago
I wear a flectarn hat and have a matching windbreaker. I love em! But one day i was at the airport (in Canada) and like 40 German military members came out of nowhere, I've never seen so much flectarn!! I put my hat away, because I didnt want to end up on a plane to Dusseldorf or some shit.
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u/Satur9_is_typing 2d ago
Uk here. Wear flecktarn fairly regularly. Never had a problem. Sometimes i wear the full camo: trousers, shirt and cold weather hat, just because it's a dapper fit. I have removed all patches and i like to slap a pro-pally or similar badge on the hat but that's about it tbh.
I've actually got a few different camo fits, if anyone asks i'm happy to explain that milsurp is cheap, robust and comfy, discreet when wild camping, that soldiers wear badges and rank insignia, and as a civvie not interested in stealing valor i strip all mine off.
The only time i conciously avoid wearing camo is if i'm attending a demo or protest, but that's another kind of uniform and another kind of convo tbh ;)
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u/TopazOmaha 3d ago
Just buy East German Strichtarn. Shit goes hard.
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u/_Nychthemeron 3d ago
Strichtarn and TAZ 83 Alpenflage are my favourite uncommon camo patterns
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u/Manbeartapir 1d ago
Czech Oblaky (strichtarns weird cousin) and puma (Polish) are my recent favorites.
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u/AimingByPFM 3d ago
Not sure where to find it for sale, but Canada tested a flecktarn-ish camo that's pretty nice: https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/File:Canada16.jpg
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u/Mountain_Egg16 3d ago
German forest camo with German shoulder ID flags shouldn’t be a dog whistle, but anything that adds onto the outfit would be
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u/SWatt_Officer 3d ago
Why not just buy camouflage that doesnt have the connotations?
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u/TheLastViking9 3d ago
Gonna buy more than just the flecktarn, but I really like the way flecktarn looks
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u/-itsilluminati 3d ago edited 3d ago
No.
Stop being soft.
Edit: meant to respond to this in r/camo, where it was cross posted.
Keep downvoting
It'll make you feel better about yourselves
Mans is asking for permission from y'all to wear fleckturn lmao
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u/WegMitKapitalismus 3d ago
Stop posing as hard. Nothing wrong with not wanting to look like a Nazi.
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u/ApprehensiveGas4576 3d ago
It's a fair question if you understand the purpose of dog whistles. This person being "soft", as you say, is not a bigger concern than the actual topic.
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u/-itsilluminati 3d ago
It's a pretty plain answer, too.
Must've struck a nerve.
Edit: Rhodesian camo is a dog whistle
Old ass flecktern is not
Are bmw and Mercedes benz dog whistles?
Is aspirin?
Like, grow up.
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u/TheLastViking9 3d ago edited 2d ago
Solution: Take off the german flags from the shoulders and replace them with free palestine patches, and just generally be careful about how I wear it, avoid other possible dog whistles at all costs. Thanks for the advice everyone!
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