Is It Offensive?

[Boingo the Clown]

I have recently resumed work on DeiMWolf, and I have become worried about some content I wish to add.

DeiMWolf is based on Wolfenstein 3D. As you may recall, when W3D starts up, a midi version of "Horst Wessel Lied", the NAZI party anthem, is played over a splash screen showing B.J. Blazkowicz waiting around a corner to ambush one of the NAZI guards. For DeiMWolf, I have chosen to do the same thing, with the exception that I intend to do it with new graphics and sound.

The problem is the fact that I am planning to use an actual recording of the song from the period, edited down to a single verse with B.J. (my voice, of course) expressing displeasure at his current situation. Until now, I had not worried about it. The mod might be illegal in Germany under section 86 of her criminal code, because of the NAZI imagery required for it, but since it all being using in context of the player vs. the NAZIs I was not worried about it until now. I am beginning to worry however, if perhaps the use of a period recording of "Horst Wessel Lied"—in other words, the NAZI party anthem being sung by real NAZIs—would be considered offensive, despite the context in which it is being used.

So ...

My question is, "Do you think it is offensive?".

I need to know.

[TheDarkArchon]

I don't think it's offensive but I voted "don't care" since you're doing a Nazi mod anyway so going full-bound doesn't really bother me.

[Graf Zahl]

I really couldn't care less - even though German laws state the opposite.

[wildweasel]

It pretty much isn't Wolfenstein without taking every step to make it authentic, which includes using Horst Wessel Lied. Besides that, Germany has no rights to prosecute you for using the song (unless you happen to live there). I say go right on ahead.

[Syfo-Dyas]

I would not even worry about it. Forget that P.C. crap.

If we keep censoring history so as not to offend anyone, then we in effect begin to erase history and therefore can never learn from it.


I say go for it, I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

Besides I've seen nazi propaganda in a lot more offensive (and shocking) places than in a video game.

[Enjay]

I agree entirely with the previous post.