Advertisement

Grandfather claims he flew Nazi flag outside home to honour British war heroes

The Nazi flag fying outside of Steve Allman's home in Worcester (Picture: SWNS)
The Nazi flag fying outside of Steve Allman's home in Worcester (Picture: SWNS)

A grandfather has claimed he flew a Nazi flag outside his house to honour British war heroes.

Police were called to the home of Steve Allman in Hindlip, Worcestershire after he raised the red and black swastika emblem in his front garden the day after the Battle of Britain 80th anniversary on Tuesday.

But the 66-year-old said he did not mean to cause any offence by erecting the controversial flag and he had actually done so to honour the nation's troops.

His neighbours did not agree and he has now taken it down after they complained.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, said she thought it was totally unacceptable to fly a flag with a Nazi symbol on it.

She said: “I think it is provocative and offensive to victims of the Nazis and those whose family members sacrificed so much to defeat Hitler in the Second World War.”

Read more: Battle of Britain heroes ‘should be celebrated whatever your politics’

Steve Allman claims he flew Nazi flag outside home to honour British war heroes (Picture: SWNS)
Steve Allman claims he flew Nazi flag outside home to honour British war heroes (Picture: SWNS)

Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, added: "It's an insult to Britain's war heroes who died fighting Hitler's evil regime.

"It's also a kick in the teeth for Holocaust survivors and a reminder of the horrors they endured. Nobody needs to see that flag here.”

Allman, a grandfather-of-two, said: “Nobody's going to defend Nazism, any more than you would ISIS or the IRA. I would definitely draw the line there. I am certainly not supporting right-wing fascism.

“One or two people might think I am because I put that flag up - but it is old and part of history.

“I know in this generation it's very difficult to sometimes accept symbols or some of the histories that Britain has been involved in or Germany has been involved in.

"But his is a bit of political history which we cannot avoid."

Read more: Five notable volunteer pilots who helped win the Battle of Britain

Steve Allman's home in Worcester (Picture: SWNS)
Steve Allman's home in Worcester (Picture: SWNS)

Allman, a keen vexillologist, which is the study of flags and symbols, says he had displayed hundreds of different flags outside his home due to his hobby, including a Confederate flag.

West Mercia Police confirmed they had received a report of a hate crime in relation to the display - but it is currently not illegal to fly the Nazi flag in the UK.

A police spokesman added: “We have received a report of a hate incident in relation to a flag being flown outside a property in Hindlip.

"This is now being investigated.”