Nazi Lärchebäume im Wald

[sapper740]

Anybody ever hear of this and how it could survive until 2001? The Larch is an conifer tree that turns colour in the Fall. In 1937, in Zernikow about a 110 km. north of Berlin, a local businessman and ardent follower of Adolf Hitler planted a 60 by 60 metre area of Larch trees. The trees were planted in the shape of a Swastika and could only be seen from the air. During Autumn, when the Larch trees changed their colour they stood out in stark contrast against the green forest of surrounding pine trees. Discovered many years after the war, this long-forgotten symbol of the Nazi era was finally removed by cutting down 27 of the 57 trees that made up the Swastika design. This was done in 2001 by the Brandenburg State Forest authorities. Local farmer, Joachim Schultz, remarked "It was quite embarrassing, we were afraid that it would become a pilgrimage site"
Displaying the Swastika symbol is forbidden in Germany today, as is owning a copy of Hitler's book 'Mein Kampf' a copy of which was presented to all newly married couples. Mein Gott!