I get the impression that the explosion of UK bell target activity was a mixture of the upper classes taking an interest in the habits of the working classes (ie in pubs etc) only in so far as it might improve their shooting abilities when drafted into uniform, after being outclassed by Boer sharpshooters during the Boer War a few years earlier.

Combined with the ability to actually shoot safely and cheaply with bell target-type precision indoors, after GLJ's wonderful air rifles came on the market.

Whereas in Germany, target shooting - whether with flobert rifles or bolzenbusche airguns from the ordinary bierkeller to posh parlours - was already deeply ingrained in the culture from bottom to top during the previous century.

Re. Nazi memorabilia, I share Geezer's reservations about a strain of interest that strays into an unhealthy fascination. But John is right when he suggests that the Nazi propagandists went out of their way to make their paraphernalia visually striking - and therefore collectable today.