Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed disgust at photos that appeared to show German troops in Afghanistan posing with a human skull and pledged that any soldiers found to be involved would be punished severely.

GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel promised tough action after German soldiers in Afghanistan were photographed playing and posing with a skull.

Members of the German government and military today commemorated the unsuccessful attempt to kill Adolf Hitler 61 years ago, laying wreaths at the former Nazi military headquarters where the plotters were executed.