War relics of World War II GIs resurface as the Reich stuff: despite efforts to suppress growing trade in antique Nazi paraphernalia, collectors say the truth about the horrors of Hitler's regime is important to the assessment of history

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Oct 1, 2002 | by John Elvin

Few GIs who survived the hostilities were anxious to go out poking around after mementos. "There were still some Germans who we figured would take a shot if they thought they could get away with it," Bill Elvin says. Souvenir collecting was a sidelight to the thoughts foremost in the minds of the soldiers he knew, who, like himself, had seen enough war.

"Mostly, we were interested in getting home" he says.