Czechs probe troops wearing Nazi symbols

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Czech Republic authorities say they're investigating evidence that elite troops deployed in Afghanistan had Nazi swastikas on their uniforms.

Defense Minister Martin Bartak has ordered Army Chief of Staff Vlastimil Picek to immediately investigate the case and promised severe punishments if a media report about the display of Nazi symbols is found to be true, the Czech news agency CTK reported Monday.

"This cannot be tolerated," he said, adding that the reputation of Czech military units in foreign missions could be adversely affected by such incidents.

Elite troopers Jan Cermak and Hynek Matonoha, both from the Czech Republic's 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade, have been accused of wearing Nazi symbols on their uniforms. The daily newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes Monday published a photo of Cermak wearing the symbol of the Nazi SS Dirlewanger brigade on his helmet, CTK said.