Procedure launched against Defense students for Nazi, racist messages

The Ministry of Defense started proceedings against five students and one leader of the Royal Military Academy (KMA) who "seriously violated the standards" of the Defense organization, State Secretary Barbara Visser said in a letter to parliament, NU.nl reports.

Investigation showed that the students shared "offensive and insulting visual material in a WathsApp group, including images of a pornographic and racist nature and with references to Nazi Germany", Visser wrote. The leader had multiple relationships with female cadets. The procedure launched against the students and leader can result in Defense taking punitive measures, ranging from a warning to dismissal.

The KMA leader will be evaluated and the rules and codes of conduct - including those regarding relationships with an unequal balance of power - will again be brought to his attention, Visser said. She added that the guidelines for the use of social media and WhatsApp will also be updated.

A committee of inquiry also investigated "a report regarding a situation where unacceptable statements in relation to Nazi Germany were made" at a unit of the Airmobile Brigade, the State Secretary said. "The committee established on the basis of statements that a Hitler salute was given in the unit in question, but has not been able to ascertain by whom exactly, and where and when this happened", she wrote. The committee found no "substantive involvement in or affinity with national socialist ideals", but said that "the Hitler salute - in whatever situation - is totally unacceptable".