Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 13, 2008 Tamuz 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A wax figure of Adolf Hitler at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Berlin. (Reuters) Last update - 10:26 06/07/2008 Man rips off head of Hitler wax figure at new Berlin museum By The Associated Press Tags: Madame Tussauds, Jewish World  A man tore the head off an Adolf Hitler wax figure at Madame Tussauds' new branch in Berlin in what appeared to be a symbolic protest on the museum's opening day Saturday, officials said. Police said the 41-year-old man shoved aside two museum employees - one of whom was assigned to protect the exhibit - and slightly injured one of them. He then ripped the head off the likeness of the Nazi dictator. Advertisement Police said they arrested the man and he told them he was protesting against the Hitler figure. The man was only the second visitor to enter the museum, employee Stephan Koch said - adding that he and a colleague had tried unsuccessfully to prevent the assailant from jumping over a table in front of the figure and damaging the effigy. The Berlin resident now faces an investigation on suspicion of causing damage to property and bodily harm, police spokesman Bernd Schodrowski said. Koch said the damaged figure has been removed for now, but the museum remained open. Museum official Nathalie Ruoss said organizers would decide Monday what to do about the figure. The presence of the Nazi dictator's likeness in the new museum led to criticism in German media over recent weeks, but defenders of the plan argued Hitler's role in German history could not be ignored. Last month, Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit urged the museum to consider carefully whether to include Hitler and, if it did, to ensure that he not be shown as a cult figure. The museum, which is near the German capital's Brandenburg Gate, pledged to portray Hitler without glorifying him, as he would have looked shortly before his 1945 suicide. It produced a likeness of the Nazi leader hunched over a desk in a dimly lit bunker. The figure, unveiled to journalists Thursday, showed Hitler - with deep lines furrowing his forehead - sitting beneath a map of Europe on the wall, monitoring the advance of allied troops from the east and west. Museum officials offered assurances that visitors would not be able to touch, photograph or pose with the wax Hitler - unlike the rest of the 75 figures in the new collection. Prominent figures in the two-story exhibition, which spreads out over nearly 2,500 square meters, include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, communist East Germany's longtime leader, Erich Honecker and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Related articles: Hitler wax figure unveiled in Berlin amid criticism Berlin Jewish leader backs publishing Mein Kampf with commentary Filming begins in Vienna for tongue-in-cheek Hitler biopic More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Smoking kills Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians. Case of deja vu Olmert and his office chief Shula Zaken were accused of similar charges back in 1991.   1.   Quite predictable, but genius nonetheless 13:22  |  Natallie Durson 05/07/08   2.   Headless no brainer dictator... Definitely more artistic! 13:28  |  Michael J 05/07/08   3.   Nice guy 14:35  |  G. Joris 05/07/08   4.   ordes of nazis in you tube 14:45  |  paulo2005 05/07/08   5.   outsider 14:53  |  Di, the doubter 05/07/08   6.   Hitler Effigy Decapitated! 15:13  |  Jeff Northridge 05/07/08   7.   What the man did was natural 15:19  |  Lebanese in Canada 05/07/08   8.   #1 17:38  |  Red Star 05/07/08   9.   Shame on you germans! 18:26  |  JP 05/07/08   10.   Keep the headless body... 19:41  |  Absolute Israel 05/07/08   11.   I congradulate this man for doing the right thing 21:21  |  Mea 05/07/08   12.   Red Star 21:53  |  Natallie Durson 05/07/08   13.   history was changed 21:53  |  Fritz 05/07/08   14.   Making the figure a non-issue 22:36  |  Brad 05/07/08   15.   civil rights 23:51  |  hermann 05/07/08   16.   Art 00:13  |  Michael 06/07/08   17.   Shame - no, not on germans 00:20  |  Maximilian Eberl 06/07/08   18.   #13 Fritz 00:34  |  MR 06/07/08   19.   #14 hermann 00:39  |  MR 06/07/08   20.   #16 Maximilian Eberl 00:48  |  MR 06/07/08   21.   Fritz 01:37  |  Yosemite 06/07/08   22.   #20: You exagerate just a bit... 01:44  |  Jan 06/07/08   23.   A little bit attention 03:06  |  Habakuk 06/07/08   24.   Bravo! The statue of Saddam Hussein was taken out! 03:55  |  Maureen Ann 06/07/08   25.   #13 Fritz of Germany.....Chancellor Merkel 05:58  |  Lynn 06/07/08   26.   Hitler shown as a cult figure 06:48  |  Fred 06/07/08   27.   #13-Fritz-there is a capital J in Jews 07:37  |  PK 06/07/08   28.   Brave act! If only some had been brave enough to 07:41  |  PK 06/07/08   29.   If Madame Tussaud put Hitler in their NYC museum 07:45  |  PK 06/07/08   30.   Madame Tussauds is NOT a German company 08:57  |  Goy 06/07/08   31.   To much attention for this "hitler". 10:01  |  kraut 06/07/08   32.   Scary monsters are a part of history 11:38  |  hala 06/07/08   33.   #25 Lynn re #13 Fritz 13:57  |  MR 06/07/08   34.   What`s the big deal? 14:19  |  JordanisPalestine 06/07/08   35.   Not Allowed to Pose with the Wax Hitler 14:27  |  JordanisPalestine 06/07/08   36.   Hitler "assassinated" 22:07  |  Sean 07/07/08   37.   What a moron, I hope they prosecute him 22:22  |  David 10/07/08   38.   Hitler 17:28  |  Sonny 12/07/08

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