In Europe, it’s not just making fun of a <\/span>president’s wife<\/span><\/a> or making edgy <\/span>jokes<\/span><\/a> on social media that can lead to fines and jail time, but criticizing authoritarian leaders, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

In early February, Rainer Zitelmann, a German historian and sociologist, received a letter from Berlin police informing him he was under investigation for violating Germany’s criminal code by using “symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I will turn 69 in June, and it is the first time in my life that I have come into conflict with the law,” Zitelmann tells <\/span>Reason<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>Zitelmann, who has written for Reason<\/em><\/a>, wrote his doctoral dissertation<\/a> on the evils of Nazism and its anticapitalist roots.<\/p>\n

The post in question, which Zitelmann reshared, showed a side-by-side image of Adolf Hitler and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hitler’s speech bubble read, “Give me Czechoslovakia and I won’t attack anyone else!” and Putin’s read, “Give me Ukraine and I won’t attack anyone else!” It was not the quote that put Zitelmann in trouble with the law, but Hitler’s swastika armband.<\/span><\/p>\n

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pic.twitter.com\/o2FGdmoPp8<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rep. Don Bacon ???????????????? (@RepDonBacon) December 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n