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mainer

(12,637 posts)
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 01:42 PM Jun 9

Even a WWII buff did NOT recognize it as a Totenkopf

Tesha first posted this link and it needs wider distribution.
This is why I don't believe those who claim they instantly recognized that tattoo as a Totenkopf.

I have made three films about the holocaust, looked at more than 5,000 still photographs of the Holocaust in the German national archive in Koblinz, spent two weeks in the photo archive at Yad Vashem in Israel looking at thousands of photographs, did a 90 minute PBS special about the French resistance against the Nazis, and I have an entire book about German military uniforms and I did not recognize his tattoo as an SS Totenkopf insignia when I first saw it. The actual Totenkopf insignias are small and silver, and when I saw the large black version on Platner’s chest I did not recognize it. I wish I had a dollar for every tattoo I ever saw that was a bad choice.


https://www.facebook.com/rob.gardner.399
9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Even a WWII buff did NOT recognize it as a Totenkopf (Original Post) mainer Jun 9 OP
About Rob Gardner mainer Jun 9 #1
A person can just say they support Platner without having to prove how unobservant they are. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 9 #2
Yeah, the whole thing is a cheap smear -misanthroptimist Jun 9 #3
How embarrassing for him obamanut2012 Jun 9 #4
At least the filmmaker is not denying what it is. sarisataka Jun 9 #9
Perhaps he is not the WW2 buff you believe he is. sarisataka Jun 9 #5
World War II buff... BH liberal Jun 9 #6
It was OBVIOUSLY a totenkopf, but... Happy Hoosier Jun 9 #7
You found one. RandySF Jun 9 #8

-misanthroptimist

(1,943 posts)
3. Yeah, the whole thing is a cheap smear
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 01:56 PM
Jun 9

And it didn't even work. I expect by November they'll trot out a parrot who says Platner wouldn't give him a cracker.

sarisataka

(22,989 posts)
9. At least the filmmaker is not denying what it is.
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 02:32 PM
Jun 9

Just that he did not immediately recognize it outside of the context of a uniform.

Surprisingly, given his history of Holocaust documentaries but ir seems he did eventually see it.

sarisataka

(22,989 posts)
5. Perhaps he is not the WW2 buff you believe he is.
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 02:07 PM
Jun 9

I have noticed a trend of people who cannot believe others may have knowledge they are unaware of; why is it so difficult to accept? None of us are omniscient.

Happy Hoosier

(9,721 posts)
7. It was OBVIOUSLY a totenkopf, but...
Tue Jun 9, 2026, 02:11 PM
Jun 9

I don't necessarily expect Platner to have known that, and young men sometimes do stupid shit.

I'm not happy he got it, but I am willing to overlook it since he got it covered up.

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