The recent headlines in all German newspapers once again highlight the connection between the renowned sports brand Adidas and the German national football team.
However, this time the focus is not on the termination of their longstanding partnership as Germany shifts to Nike, but rather on a matter concerning Nazi symbolism.
Adidas has made an announcement stating that they will no longer offer the option of having the number 44 on the national team’s apparel.
This decision stems from the fact that the chosen font for the numbers bears a striking resemblance to the SS rune, a symbol associated with the National Socialists and Adolf Hitler’s ‘Schutzstaffel’ – a forbidden emblem.
The SS, operating as a paramilitary organization under Hitler’s regime and the Nazi party, served as a security and surveillance agency, as well as a perpetrator of state terrorism.
It played a significant role in the Holocaust and committed numerous other atrocities.