A SWASTIKA-WEARING caricature was not intended to cause offence, said a bemused pub spokesman after being criticised for using a cartoon Nazi to advertise a German night.

The advertising tactics of the team at The Buck Inn in Sadberge, near Darlington have been criticised after contentious posters came to light on Monday.

Editorial comment: The clown who came up with Nazi pub poster idea is a complete dummkopf

The posters, publicising an upcoming German-themed culinary event - show a caricature of the pub’s chef wearing a swastika-emblazoned uniform while performing a Nazi salute.

A spokesman for the pub said the advert had been light-hearted but has nevertheless apologised after being criticised by councillors who say the posters are distasteful and offensive.

Darlington councillor Gerald Lee, who runs the town’s Celebrating Communities initiative, questioned why “anyone would want to associate themselves with Nazi Germany and the atrocities perpetuated by thousands of swastika wearing young men”.

He added: “Nazi Germany stood for hatred, cruelty, dominance and death so I cannot see the significance of the advertisement and how it will benefit the event, which after all will be organised to give pub customers a good night out – a total contradiction to everything Nazi Germany stood for.

“The last thing we need to see is a smiling Nazi soldier on a pub advert – let’s remember the killing and those who died and condemn anything to do with this horrendous time in world history.”

Cllr Tom Nutt, who has visited Darlington’s German twin town Mulheim several times as head of the Town Twinning Association, also condemned the advertising campaign.

He said: “There are many ways to celebrate German culture and food and this one is in bad taste.

“In Germany, this sort of thing is banned outright and it should be here, too.

“The TTA visited Auschwitz just two weeks ago and if you’ve been there, you do not want to be reminded of Nazis.

“I have many German friends and they feel the same way we do about Nazis, they certainly would not take this as a joke.”

The pub spokesman said: “We have had no complaints in the pub and the posters were never meant to cause offence.

“I cannot believe it is being taken so seriously, it’s just light-hearted and we never intended to offend anybody – we apologise sincerely if we have.

“We’d like to encourage people to come along, it’s not like we’ve got anything in the pub saying come and have a go at the Germans, we haven’t got swastikas all over the place and it’s not a fancy dress event.”

  • The Advertising Standards Authority issues the following advice: “Marketers should be aware of the potential to cause serious or widespread offence when referring to different races, cultures, nationalities or ethnic groups.

“Light-hearted ads might be acceptable but even mild humour revolving around racial stereotypes has the potential to seriously offend.

“Marketers should therefore consider carefully the likely acceptability of their intended approach.

“The tone of the marketing communication is extremely important: aggressive, confrontational or non-humorous approaches are likely to cause serious or widespread offence.

“Marcoms seen to condone violence or intolerance towards an ethnic group could breach the Code by causing offence, being socially irresponsible or by provoking or condoning violence and anti-social behaviour.”