A Melbourne gun show has come under fire for selling replica gas canisters of the same type used in Nazi concentration camps.
A father and son, who requested to remain anonymous, were visiting the show over the weekend have told how they had to leave the venue in a ‘badly shaken state.’
‘Seeing replica canisters of Zyklon B for sale was one of the most confronting, traumatising and shocking sights that I have ever seen,’ the father told the Herald Sun.
The floor of the Melbourne Arms and Militia Fair, a gathering held annually in the city (photo from 2016).
Empty Zyklon B gas cannisters are displayed at Auschwitz 1 Concentration Camp (2005 Aushwitz, Poland)
The replica canisters were displayed over the weekend at the Melbourne Arms and Militia Fair, a gathering held annually in the city.
The event organiser Jeffrey Pannan said that while Nazi collectables are legal they are distasteful.
He explained that as long as what is displayed by exhibitors at the show is legal he doesn’t have a problem.
He added, however, that he would remind future exhibitors at the show to refrain from displaying such items.
Zyklon B is a hydrogen cyanide based pesticide in the form of pellets that vapourise into gas when exposed to heat and water.
The chemical was developed in the 1920s in Germany and was knowingly supplied to the Nazis for use in gas chambers during World War II.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, the Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman, told the Herald Sun it sickened him to think someone was making money from a replica of something used to kill millions.
‘I am very worried that such indecent and repulsive objects will end up in the hands of neo-Nazis and white supremacists,’ he said.
The maker of the replica canisters, identifying himself only as Reece, apologised for ‘any offence it caused to anyone,’ and said he would not be making any more of the canisters.
Zyklon B is a hydrogen cyanide based pesticide in the form of pellets that vapourise into gas when exposed to heat and water (stock photo)
The event organiser Jeffrey Pannan said that while Nazi collectables are legal they are distasteful (2005 Aushwitz, Poland)