Jewish Engineer Designed Beetle: Historian

(NEWSER) - Hitler's autobiography-manifesto Mein Kampf has been strictly banned in Germany since the end of World War II, but a proposal to reprint it has the endorsement of the country's leading Jewish organization, among other groups, reports the Independent. "A historically critical edition needs to be prepared today to prevent neo-Nazis profiting from it," said the head of the Central Council of Jews. But politicians and many academics oppose the effort. More»

Controversy rages over 19th-century medal linked to Nazi regime

(NEWSER) - German officials are debating whether to bring back the Iron Cross, a military insignia closely associated with the Nazi era, the Independent reports. Some 5,000 Germans signed a petition last year calling for the reintroduction of the decoration for "outstanding bravery," which was eliminated in 1945. Others say it’s too mired in bad memories to be appropriate. More»

Three German U-boats located in Black Sea

(NEWSER) - Three World War II U-boats, known as "Hitler's lost fleet," have been discovered off the Turkish coast, the Telegraph reports. A Turkish team combined archival research with sailor interviews and sonar technology to find the wreckage, part of the six-boat fleet that dogged Russian ships in the Black Sea under notorious commander "Silent Otto" Kretschmer. More»

Berlin police investigate a totaled truck for defects on the set of "Valkyrie"

(NEWSER) - Eleven extras were injured on the Berlin set of Tom Cruise's latest film, "Valkyrie," when the side of a truck—decked out to look like a Nazi military transport—blew open as it took a corner. One man was seriously injured in the crash. Local authorities reported "no findings to suggest anyone famous was involved," the BBC says. More»

Berlin does an about-face on anti-Hitler movie

(NEWSER) - Tom Cruise will be allowed to shoot his new movie, about a German military officer who tried to assassinate Hitler, on German soil. Earlier reports said the megastar would be banned because of his ties to Scientology, which Germany regards as a threat to democracy and keeps under "official observation," as it does neo-Nazi groups, reports Yahoo News. More»