The lawtext for you:
he wording of Section 86a StGB is:
“(1) Whoever:
1. domestically distributes or publicly uses, in a meeting or in
writings (Section 11 (3)) disseminated by him, symbols of one of the
parties or organizations indicated in Section 86 (1), nos. 1, 2 and 4;
or
2. produces, stocks, imports or exports o b j e
c ts which depict or contain such symbols for distribution or use
domestically or abroad, in the manner indicated in number 1,
shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine.
(2) Symbols, within the meaning of subsection (1), shall be, in
particular, flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting.
Symbols which are so similar as to be mistaken for those named in
sentence 1 shall be deemed to be equivalent thereto.
(3) Section 86 subsections (3) and (4), shall apply accordingly.”
The wording of referred Section 86 StGB is:
“(1) Whoever domestically disseminates or produces, stocks, imports or
exports or makes publicly accessible through data storage media for
dissemination domestically or abroad, means of propaganda:
1. of a party which has been declared to be unconstitutional by the
Federal Constitutional Court or a party or organization, as to which it
has been determined, no longer subject to appeal, that it is a
substitute organization of such a party;
2. of an
organization, which has been banned, no longer subject to appeal,
because it is directed against the constitutional order or against the
idea of international understanding, or as to which it has been
determined, no longer subject to appeal, that it is a substitute
organization of such a banned organization;
3. of a
government, organization or institution outside of the territorial area
of application of this law which is active in pursuing the o b j e c
tives of one of the parties or organizations indicated in numbers 1 and
2; or
4. means of propaganda, the contents of which
are intended to further the aims of a former National Socialist
organization,
shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine.
(2) Means of propaganda within the meaning of subsection (1) shall only
be those writings (Section 11 (3)) the content of which is directed
against the free, democratic constitutional order or the idea of
international understanding.
(3) Subsection (1)
shall not be applicable if the means of propaganda or the act serves to
further civil enlightenment, to avert unconstitutional aims, to promote
art or science, research or teaching, reporting about current
historical events or similar purposes.
(4) If guilt is slight, the court may refrain from imposition of punishment pursuant to this provision.”
Games and Models are no exeption from the law!!!!!
There is one very important sentence I would like to quote from the explanations:
\"Also, with regard to the danger of habituation and disturbance of
political peace, the use of Hitler’s picture on a postcard was
categorised as prohibited according to Section 86a (1) StGB.⎷] as was a
swastika on a model aircraft⎸]\"
The
use of the forbidden symbols is illegal on models (and in games). This
is the way it is. Cobra is illegal in Germany because of the SS runes -
if cobra were a historical text written for educational purposes it
would be legal - but as a game supplemant it is illegal. BF, if you do
not believe me, send a copy to the Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office
for the Protection of the Constitution) and see what they are going to
tell you about it.
For those of you who do not understand the \"why\" about §86:
\"Section 86a StGB prohibits the use of their symbols not only in a
political but also in a general sense in order to avert social
habituation to them.\"
Here is another link, this time in German, with lots of explanations and a list of forbidden symbols:
http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/seninn/verfassungsschutz/stand2005/info_symbole_5._aufl.pdf (thanks Nergal for the collection)