Green Group Chair's Irritation towards Nazi-like Remarks or Commonplace Speech?
In Roman times, the phrase 'To each his own' was coined as 'Suum Cuique,' but its usage has evolved significantly over the centuries. Unfortunately, the Nazis perverted the phrase, and it remains a part of everyday language today.
The phrase has sparked interest in courts due to its context, with author Trutz Hardo being convicted under Section 86a for using it in a novel that justified the Holocaust. Similarly, an NPD member from Brandenburg was convicted and received an eight-month prison sentence under the same section for revealing a tattoo featuring an Auschwitz watchtower and the Buchenwald logo 'To Each His Own.'
However, not all instances of the phrase's use have led to legal consequences. There are no reports of legal action against Vienna rapper Money-Boy after he sang 'To each his own, but I want the most' in his 2017 song 'Monte Carlo.'
On the other hand, Henryk M. Broder's book 'To Each His Own' from 1999 was not challenged, as it critically engaged with the historical legacy and analyzed the potential for abuse and linguistic power of such slogans.
The use of the phrase in advertising campaigns has been a contentious issue. The Federal Agency for Civic Education has listed several companies that have used the Nazi-tainted phrase in advertising, including Nokia, Rewe, Microsoft, Burger King, Deutsche Telekom, Munich's Merkur Bank, and Esso. In response to criticism, Nokia changed their advertising slogan for interchangeable mobile phone cases from 'To each his own' to 'What you want.'
Political figures have also found themselves embroiled in controversy over the use of the phrase. Thuringia's AfD leader Björn Höcke was convicted under Section 86a of the Criminal Code for 'using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations' for shouting 'All for Germany,' an SA slogan, at a campaign event in Merseburg in 2021. Katharina Dröge, the Green Party's parliamentary group leader, made a controversial remark on the political talk show 'Maischberger' on ARD, comparing her statement to a phrase used on the gate of the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald. Dröge later apologized for using the phrase, stating that it was a careless mistake and was not her intention to offend.
The phrase 'To each his own' has a dark history that continues to resonate in modern Germany. Its usage must be handled with care and consideration, as its association with the Nazi regime can be highly problematic and taboo, especially in advertising contexts.
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