A state attorney definitively shelved the case of Czech soldier Jan Cermak who wore Nazi symbols on his helmet while serving in the Afghan mission, public Czech Television (CT) reported today. The attorney concluded that no further punishment was needed after Cermak was dismissed from the military, demoted and lost the right to severance pay and bonuses. Cermak wore the symbol of the SS Dirlewanger Brigade, which was one of the most infamous SS combat units of World War Two. His former colleague, Hynek Matonoha, was also dismissed from the military last year for the use of Nazi insignia on his helmet. After the case surfaced last November, Czech politicians and military heads declared that troops should be severely punished for any demonstration of extremism.
Prague Monitor
