SCOTLAND’S Culture Secretary has been asked to step in to remove “all Nazi insignia” from Edinburgh Castle.
Alba general secretary Chris McEleny penned a letter to Angus Robertson after being “disturbed” to see symbols and memorabilia from the Nazi Party on display in the capital’s historic landmark.
The swastika and other symbols are part of a display inside the war museum, housed inside the castle grounds.
McEleny said: “There is no association whatsoever to Edinburgh Castle and it is a national embarrassment to tourists from across the world to confront them with such artefacts.
“As Edinburgh Castle is operated by Historic Environment Scotland, which reports to you as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, I request that you immediately intervene and instruct that all Nazi insignia is removed from the grounds of our historic castle.”
Historic Environment Scotland said that the war museum where the Nazi items are on display is controlled by National Museums Scotland.
Entry to the museum is free but it is located within Edinburgh castle grounds, which are controlled by HES and do require an entry fee.
A large Nazi swastika is included in a display of “souvenirs” from various battles and wars. In a cabinet which also holds items from Gurkha soldiers, a pipe given by a German soldier to a British one during the Christmas truce of 1914, and a gold watch returned to the British after its officer owner was killed in the Crimean war.
The Nazi symbol was originally part of a plane which was shot down during World War Two. The display says that the enemy’s insignia and a bullet hole would have “added to the symbolic value of this souvenir”.
In his letter to Robertson, McEleny also raised concerns about the “Redcoat Cafe”, which is also within the Edinburgh Castle grounds.
The eatery is named after the red-uniformed British troops who fought against the Jacobites in Scotland, against US succession in North America, and were involved in colonisation across the globe.
McEleny wrote: “As you will be aware, Historic Environment Scotland charge a substantial fee to tour the castle but as Scotland’s most visited paid for tourist attraction it is disappointing to see the message promoted by some of the occupants of the castle – which are ignorant to the history of Scotland, none more so than the crudely named ‘Redcoat Cafe’.”
A spokesperson for National Museums Scotland said: "The displays in the National War Museum reflect the experience and encounters of Scots serving in the British Armed Forces from the 18th century to the present day. It includes material associated with those they fought with and against, including the German Armed Forces in both World Wars.
"In particular, the Active Service Gallery conveys a sense of the experience of war as seen through the eyes of Scottish servicemen and women, and it is in this context that material bearing Nazi insignia is displayed, reflecting Scottish military participation in the Second World War."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “This is a matter for National Museums Scotland who are responsible for the War Museum at Edinburgh Castle.”
