Roger Boyes in Berlin
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The decapitation of Adolf Hitler by a left-wing activist drew widespread applause from German critics and politicians yesterday who felt that his wax dummy should never have been put on display in Berlin.
One commentator hailed it as “a successful assassination attempt – sadly 75 years overdue”.
The assault occurred only minutes after the Berlin affiliate of Madame Tussauds opened its doors to the public at the weekend. The second visitor in the building, a 41-year-old former policeman known only as Frank L., headed straight for the darkened corner where a despairing Führer was shown hunched over his desk in his Berlin bunker.
Mr L. jumped the rope cordon, slid over the desk and grabbed Hitler in a rugby tackle.
Andreas Fisch, 52, who watched the attack, said: “Then he twisted his head. The security men closed in to pull him apart from Hitler. When they fell to the floor, Frank L. shouted: ‘Never again war!’ ” Prosecutors are looking into pursuing Mr L. on charges of assault – one of the security guards was slightly injured – and wilful damage to property. The Hitler dummy cost €200,000 (£160,000). The body is made from fibreglass, the head from beeswax. Decapitation is thus relatively easy if the head is twisted.
Mr L. was unrepentant. “I really enjoyed the fact that Willy Brandt was watching,” he said.
Brandt, a former West German Chancellor, was in the antiNazi resistance and became a hero for the Left; his dummy stands in the same room as that of Hitler.
Mr L. resigned from the Berlin police after being assigned to quell a May Day demonstration of left-wing anarchists – “I realised I belonged on the other side,” he said. Since then he has been active in the punk and squatter scene; since February he has been a care worker. His girlfriend Yvonne said: “I’m really proud of him. I’ve been furious about Hitler for days.”
She was far from being the only person to approve. The dummy has been highly controversial because the exhibition at Madame Tussauds was plainly meant to entertain rather than inform, and Hitler was being used as a commercial magnet.
Opponents said that the dummy would become a source of pilgrimage for neo-Nazis – at least, those who were able to afford the €18 (£14.25) entrance fee.
The museum, which is close to the Brandenburg Gate, had imposed a “no touching, no kissing” rule for the dummy, and posing for photographs with him was banned. Security guards were briefed to guard Hitler from open displays of affection.
Henryk Broder, a columnist for Der Spiegel, exclaimed: “At last, a successful attack on Hitler!” His one quibble was the nature of Frank L.’s political outburst – no more war. Mr Broder said: “If the Allies hadn’t waged war on Hitler, we might still be under the yoke of his heirs. He should have shouted ‘Never again dictatorship!’ But that’s not a very fashionable rallying call on the Left.”
Politicians were also shedding no tears for the wax Führer. The Social Democrat politician Frank Zimmermann said: “It’s more of an artwork to rip off Hitler’s head than to put him on display.”
Natalie Russ, spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds, said that a decision would be taken today on whether Hitler would return. She added: “It depends on the scale of the damage.” For the time being his body is being kept in a locked side room. The key decision will be whether to surround the waxwork of the Führer with a reinforced glass wall. The Hitler dummy in the London branch of Madame Tussauds has been exhibited since 1933. Until 2002, it was the dummy that attracted the most protest: visitors spat at it and tried to deface it.
After 2002, the model of Osama bin Laden became the most controversial figure.
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'What they did is the equvalent of putting Robert Mugabe opposite Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.'
Nelson Mandela was not saint either.
'Hitler, after all, was the leader of the National Socialist party...'
Political parties are the opposite in Europe of what they are in the US.
Bob, Chicago, IL, USA
Putting Hitler into the same room as Willy Brandt, whom he persecuted is not just bad taste, it is, in my mind nothing short of ciminal. Madame Tussaud's Berlin branch should be closed. What they did is the equvalent of putting Robert Mugabe opposite Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.
John Dolan, London,
Why does the Left keep trying to pretend that Hitler was not a product of its own doing? Hitler, after all, was the leader of the National Socialist party of Germany. Last I heard, socialism was part of the Left, not the Right.
Marco Zappo, Chicago, USA
Europe forever with its head buried in the sand... And forever naive Americans coming to fight on its behalf. How many US soldiers are buried on European soil? 1,000? 10,000? Oh, that's right, 100,000!! History repeats itself in repressive Euroland.
Heather Rhyn, Provo, Utah
What do you bet that Frank L. wears Che T-shirts and has pictures of Fidel on his wall? He sounds like your typical violent leftist to me.
Tom, San Mateo, USA
Don't mention the war!
Mark, Auckland, New Zealand
The left always targets dummies!
Alan, Luton,
"No publicity is bad publicity." - W.C. Fields.
Alex Conner, Nashville,TN, USA
If he would have done that during the Nazi era, he would have probably been shot or sent to the concentrations camps. I am thankful that Germany is a free country.
J, Missoula, USA
3.@T. Nothnagle. What do you think why Germans are at odds with patriotic feelings for their homeland? Because they know just to good what has happened. There are many museums, exhibitions,memorials. Swastikas and Hilter are so very present you wont believe it. But only in an appropriate context.
Thorsten Kunisch, Mönchengladbach, Germany
I think it has a lot of a "double bind": When Tussaud's shows Hitler, it is said: "Ah these Germans, they like him, otherwise they wouldn't show him."
When he's not shown: "Ah these Germans, they try to deny their history."
So, we should get over it and relax.
By the way, Tussaud's is British.
Soeren, Cologne, Germany
A sure sign that Germans have not yet come to terms with their history. Yes, folks. It's HISTORY.
We marvel at castles built by people like Cromwell, William the Conqueror and Edward 1. What were THEY like? Nice guys? I don't think so.
It's HISTORY. Learn about it and learn from it.
Dave, Notts, UK
Erm...don't we live under freedom of expression? If you don't want to see the Hitler dummy then don't go and pay for a ticket to the exhibition. Frank L. damaged property of the museum and for that he should pay the bill. End of story. Just get on with your lifes.
Heinrich, Cologne, Germany
Just stick the head back on-backwards-call it performance art and get on with life.
Kathy, Elburn, USA
If you don't want to look at Hitler there is a pretty simple solution: Don't go to the exhibit. Funny how many people try to get credit for something as stupid as attacking a dummy. The fact is that Hitler has been gone for 63 years and he's still news...
Edward, Lafayette, CA., USA
Suppressing knowledge of Hitler suppresses knowledge of his evil, leaving it free to grow again when we least expect it. Ignorance is poor education, but then the extreme left know this and practice it as assiduously as the extreme right.
KR, Stockport,
The Left is still playing the big lie to the hilt . Hitler was a man of the Left. What about attackinging all of the renderings of Stalin, Lenin, Mao,Che, Largo Caballo and Fidel? Where is the real moral indignation on the pervasive use of mass murder as a political instrument by the left?
Andrew, New Milford, USA- CT
I would sooner the salient emotion towards Hitler and the atrocities that occurred under the Nazis be allowed to ferment with this public exhibition than they be allowed to dwindle so that in time there is only apathy...lest we forget.
James Cullup, Oxford,
What do people have against this dummy, it shows Hitler as a battered and frail old man, not an imposing figure. Denial Truly is a horrible thing, Khrushchev tried it with Stalin and it failed miserably.
In my opinion the dummy should have been shown as a symbol of Hitler's downfall.
Stephen Desmond, Wallasey, England
The 'Looney Left' strike again. Complete intolerance of anything that they disagree with. Freedom of expression whether in art, literature, thought, or political belief is only acceptable if it complies with their ideology. George Orwell's nightmare is upon us.
Peter, Boston, UK
It is troubling because the actions of this man and the reactions of the German press and politicians to him, are totally wrong. My Mother is 88, she was 19 when WWII broke out, so too Germans of her generation. Someone born in the 60s demonstrates the same violent traits as a 1930s Brownshirt ?
John Haynes, Burnham on Sea, Somerset, UK
Maybe it should have been removed, maybe it shouldn't. But in a civilized society, it isn't up to one man to decide that. Mr. L, you're no better than Hitler himself, you only want to dictate your beliefs on others. Regardless of Hitler's reprehenisble nature, he will always be part of history.
Robert, Denver, USA
Sam has a point there. Who put Hitler into the museum and next to Willy Brandt? How would England or America react, were BinLaden in the same room as Thatcher or Kennedy?
A wax figure is no history lesson but a cash-cow. If you people want to find out how Germans treat history, come visit us.
Ilja, Sliema, Malta
I will say that I see both sides to this thing. I think that exhibiting Hitler in a historical sense is not an insensitive thing.
I also think that someone tearing Hitler's head off is really awesome.
Nick, New York, USA
Please make a wax figure for Robert Mugabe at Madamme Tussauds in London, and let's see who will rugby tackle it.
K Ang, Penang, Malaysia
Whilst I abhor Hitler and the Right, I also abhor the Left. We must NEVER forget history, thats why his action was like that of a spoilt child. There must be NO censorship of history, otherwise the Left will attempt to rewrite it. Again.
Lucas Tatek, Herts., uk
But just who is the greatest threat the left wing or the right wing? Both supress freedom of speech.
steve tea, manchester, cheshire
puerile perhaps & forgive me - but quite honestly I found this news incredibly funny, all the brouhaha as to whether or not the waxwork 'should' have been there decided in one fell swoop. Well done Herr L
sarah, france, france
I feel that Hitler was a very vile person but cutting the head off his wax dummy serves no purpose at all. If anything it just shows that the person who did it was just glory-seeking. Whatever happens one cannot change history.
Buster, Birmingham,
Trying to hide history is wrong. Hitler was an evil man just like Stalin but we don't see any one taking Stalin's head off why?
Please let not hide the History from our kids.
Bruno, Rome,
If the Germans had won the war Adolph Hitler would be a hero.
Katarina , Sydney, Australia
There was no reason to have a life like replicant of Hitler in the museum. His atrocities are well known. Its important to remember what he did so we are not doomed to repeat but any statue is an act of commemorating him not condeming him.
Janet, sun prairie, United States of America
So much for the 'more civilized' Europe. Still, one could probably expect the same fate of a wax figure of McVeigh, or the Littleton murderers, in the USA.
Jason, Climax, MI, USA
I can not help but be struck by the violent nature of Frank L.. He has total disregard for others. He is a thug, Was he by chance wearing a green shirt? It seems to be a new group of socialist dictators . Maybe he should change his name to "Adolf" and run for office and prepare some long knives
Kang-sung Lu, Futtsu , Japan
If the display held any historical importance then I would agree that it should not have been removed. But as the article pointed out, Hitler's dummy had only been there to attract revenue, to 'entertain rather than inform'! Remember that there are survivors of his Reign of Terror still living.
Ania, Melbourne, Australia
I can understand that the German people don't like Hitler and what he did, neither do I. But if we remove his place in history and the knownledge of this mad man in such acts, when will we know another one has replaced him? If we forget our past we are doomed to repeat it.
Jeremy, Tehachapi, USA
The dummy: no touch/no kissing/no photos/ - security"briefed to guard Hitler from open displays of affection" whereas in Britain it's doubtful that there would ever be such a scenario at Madame Tussaud's.It's terrible to gauge from this that neo-Nazism must still be quite a factor in German society.
Joan Moira Peters, Whangarei UK Citizen, temp o/seas in New Zealand
I always thought 'book burning' to be silly, along with the burning of national flags in the streets.
This is an even sillier variant to add to the list!
Symbolic? This was just one dummy attacking another!
Mike Hart, London, England
If the museum restores the statue they should place it a reasonable oche distance from the public and provide darts. After a short while it will become plain what Hitler's people now think of him.
Rosemary, Germany,
Don in Toronto has a good point. Why don't they show the headless Adolf dummy? It's the same criticism I had for the movie Downfall that everyone German seems to love, they never showed the dead Adolf Hitler! We are glamorizing this mad man who wanted to kill off 4/5's of the world!
Josh, fahaheel, kuwait
Why is the media so willing to show the picture of Hitler with his head on, but nobody is willing to show the picture of Hitler with his head knocked off?
Don, Toronto, Canada
There shouldn't be Hitler artwork in Berlin.
Marcus, Berlin, Germany
Ripping the head off fake Hitler accomplished what? Just appears to me that Germans are having a difficult time owning up to their own bleak spot in history. That's what Mme. T's DOES: displays prominent characters from history, both good and evil. Deal with it, Germany. Frank L. acted like a child.
Amanda, Lueneburg, Germany
There is no information about the artist of the wax sculpture. I would be very interested to hear a response from he or she in regards to the crime. No one likes their art defaced.
Joseph, Yorktown, USA
Ricardo
I hope The dummy G.W.Bush never appears at Madame Tussauds .
LOL
Frank, Bristol, UK
Really, why can't Germans get over it finally? Same guilt and hate still raging on after so many years.........
Paul, Tallinn, Estonia
I don't care whether it is restored or not. I would, however, like to note that the posture is completely apropo. The man who would rule the world reduced to his inherent cowardice. Feeling the weight of his actions, seeing the faces of his victims, and afraid to face even his own troops.
Terry, Temple, America
Thank you Sam in NY. My thoughts exactly.
Kelsie, Tampa, FL, USA
The people keep giving reasons as to why this censorship and repression is to be accepted. However all they do is show their intolerance, To be tolerant is not to allow for views that are in line with yours, but to allow for those views that are diametrically opposed and repugnant to yours.
Carl Williams, revere, United States
Bloody fool, Hitler has been long dead. He decapitated the wax dummy just to get on the news, just to push up his own ego. He's a fool, and the people who support this should not act so childish.
Ricardo, Corpus Christi, United States
Well, I think it is encouraging that the Germans are ashamed of Hitler; they certainly should be! Now, if others would show similar shame for the communist murderers of the world, we might be on the road to recovery from such barbarism.
Patrick, Houston, USA
It's nice to see Europeans taken a stand for a cause, it's too bad that people don't feel the need to take up the unjust causes in the world more often
Kato, New York, U.s.A
Some have noted that WWll is just a good story by grand parents. When wars are reduced to just good stories we repeat wars to remember what war really is.
Bobby, Memphis, USA
"the exhibition at Madame Tussauds was plainly meant to entertain rather than inform and Hitler was being used as a commercial magnet."
Roger Boyes, how do you know that?
Richard, New York State,
Nice therapeutic artistic act.
Andy, Edinburgh,
It's easy for us to sit here and say that Hitler was an "important" part of Germans history and that destroying the wax figure was "senseless." How would Americans like it if Osama Bin Laden was put in the NY Madame Tussauds?
Sam, New York, United States
Joseph Stalin murdered up to 60 Million of his own people. I have to wonder why this mass murderer's waxed figure remains untouched? When it comes to mass murder, Mao (estimated 100 Million victims) and Stalin far exceed Hitler. Why are they given a free pass by the left and so called historians?
Ray B., Concord, USA
If he is fined, I will contribute to the penalty
Lester, NY, usa
As I understand it, many Germans are ashamed and remorseful of the actions of their ancestors during the first half of the 20th century. Displaying this figure only exacerbates the problem and I think the Germans have a right to express their displeasure.
Mike, Cleveland, OH, USA
The left will fake outrage against Hitler while idolizing Stalin, Mao, Ho, Castro, and Pol Pot. Murder and murderers are repugnant regardless of ideology. Ethics with the far left is completely situational and totally political.
jmb, Raleigh, NC, usa
As Ares from Detroit and Bill from Baltimore have so clearly shown, for most Americans WWII was just a good story told by the grandparents. I, however, know that it was much more and can understand why Germans might be somewhat upset over a wax Hitler being made solely for profit.
Smith, Los Angeles, USA
It strikes an American as oddly repressive, this German idea of erasing Swastikas, SS, Seig Heils and Hitler himself. Where is the freedom of thought? This is exactly the type of thing that Goebbels would have encouraged. Who said "those who forget history are condemned to repeat it"?
Ted Nothnagle, Ft Wayne, IN, USA
Pointless (and riskless) protest. A replacement for real action, this is like those who light candles and feel like they are stopping war.
John C., Anaheim, USA
Bill in Baltimore, USA -
You are exactly correct - there is no open discourse in Germany today. It is against the law to even discuss Hitler and his dictatorship. No free ideas. Same as in most European countries. Discuss the intolerant Nazi system and go to jail! Only vandals have rights now
J. Erbeck, Las Vegas, U.S.A.
The article states:
said Mr Broder. He should have shouted: Never Again Dictatorship! But thats not a very fashionable rallying call on the Left.
I find it interesting that modern German Socialists dont want to be associated with the most well known Socialist in German history!
Brian Jones, Seattle, USA
I love how those who preach at the altar of "tolerance" the loudest, display it the least.
Dave C, Winchester, VA, USA
Hitlers image needn't be displayed in such an afront to civil people. And don't believe the outrage of many of my countrymen and their comments of cencorship and intolerance. Had this been a wax figure of Pres. Bush, many of these commentors would have cheered and praised the so-called vandal.
Kent, Idaho City, USA
Mmm I agree Hitler is a piece of the past nothing is achieved by destroying a waxwork model except speeding up the process in which the lessons learnt are forgotten. Clearly a left wing nut with more idology than brains.
Tom, Epsom, UK
I know that Germans are deeply ashamed of their history with regards to the Holocaust and WWII - but taking this out on a statue is ridiculous.
Neal J. King, Munich, GERMANY
A senseless act. Hitler was as real as many other influential leaders in the 20th century. The wax statue however should be seen as a symbolic representation: the depths to which an individual can sink in the pursuit of evil.
Ray Massart, Hombeek, Belgium
It's a pity that someone lame took off Hitler's head instead of someone who gets it. Still... glad someone in Germany was finally able to draw the line of moral outrage where Hitler is concerned.
Theresa, Los Angeles, USA
Good riddence...now if we can get rid of Lenin, Stalin, and Castro figures.
Phillip J Hubbell, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Like him or not, Hitler is a huge piece of Germany's history, and this was just a simple piece of art reflecting that. The vandal is immature and needs to be prosecuted. You'll probably find him hiding in his room, in his mom's basement.
Ares, Detroit, USA
Sad. Censorship and intolerance seem to be as alive today in Berlin as they were 75 years ago -- acts of vandalism seem to have taken the place of open discourse and peaceful protest. Sadder still that many look on and approve.
Bill, Baltimore, USA
Charging 18 euro to see Madame Tassauds is a crime. On another note Hitler was one of the most important figures of the 20th century and therefore they have a right to exhibit his figure, though probably in the monster section.
David Lea-Smith, Edinburgh, U.K.