Israel condemns Nazi parade at Taiwanese school

A Taiwanese school’s mock Nazi rally, which included a replica tank and swastika flags, has been met with disbelief and outrage.

The Christmas parade involved students in WWII German uniforms and a person aboard a cardboard battle tank performing the Nazi salute.

Taiwan’s presidential office was forced to apologise after Israel’s representative attacked the parade as "deplorable".

The Taiwanese government said the school’s actions showed a "profound ignorance of history".

Images of the parade spread rapidly online and were met with widespread indignation.

Israel’s representative to Taiwan Asher Yarden wrote a message on Facebook of his personal outrage.

"It is deplorable and shocking that seven decades only after the world had witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, a high school in Taiwan is supporting such an outrageous action,” he said.

"We strongly condemn this tasteless occurrence and call on the Taiwanese authorities, in all levels, to initiate educational programs which would introduce the meaning of the Holocaust and teach its history and universal meaning."

The principal of Kuang Fu High School has since taken "full responsibility" for the parade and resigned.

Principal Cheng Hsiao-ming apologised for the "cosplay" and to victims of the Nazi regime in his resignation letter.

He said measures would be taken to educate students on the Holocaust.

The parade was intended to focus on historical figures as part of an education unit.

Homeroom instructor Liu His-cheng had suggested Arabic culture as the emphasis, but students instead chose Adolf Hitler.

There were two rounds of voting before Hitler was chosen.

Mr Liu said he warned students against a Nazi Germany theme, but in the end allowed it to go ahead.

Students told Taipei Times that Nazis were an obvious choice because they could easily alter school uniforms to match the German uniforms.