Chinese lovebirds in Nazi garb

Chinese newlyweds are catching Internet grief after staging a photo shoot in Nazi garb.

The ChinaHush blog, which reliably scours the Chinese-language Web for wackiness, is circulating photos of a young Chinese lass and her groom dressed in an elaborate Hitler costume. The photos were originally found by Chinese Web site tt.mop.com.

The groom even sprung for a black armband that reads "Adolf Hitler" in pretty cursive print. (Nice touch.)

Photos show him staring longingly at his Aryan rabbit elf bride. They're clearly indulging in "CosPlay," short for "costume play," a Japan-born phenomenon that compels young Asians to dress as comic heroines or video game heroes and stroll around in public.

But Nazi kitsch? Isn't that beyond the pale even in Asia?

Not exactly. Like most of the world, teenage Asians are exposed to Nazism through Hollywood. But Americans and Europeans are also more likely to hear horrific World War II tales reinforced through stories passed down from a neighbor's Jewish great-grandmother or a relative sent to fight overseas. No one wants to dress up like the guy who shot or tortured their kin.

In Asia, as I've written previously, "dubbed copies of Indiana Jones and Inglorious Basterds have lent the impression that Nazis are just Hollywood villains — and, when you're 16, it's fun to dress up like the villain."

This young groom probably thinks an S.S. uniform is no more offensive than a Skeletor costume.

But I suspect his family would disown him for prancing around in public draped in this flag, which flew over invaded Chinese cities just before Hitler started wreaking havoc in Europe:

In defense of China's youth, plenty of Chinese-language Web board comments are giving the couple hell for posing as Nazis.