A man raced into Berlin's Madame Tussauds wax museum Saturday and ripped the head off a waxwork of Adolf Hitler, police said. Police said the 41-year-old entered the exhibit shortly after the museum doors opened and "made for the Hitler figure," scuffling with a guard assigned to protect it and the manager before tearing the head off the life-size statue.
The man was arrested and is now in custody, Berlin police spokeswoman Uwe Kozelnik said. He told officers he wanted to protest the figure being included in the museum. Museum official Nathalie Ruoss said organizers would decide Monday what to do about the figure. Saturday was the opening day of the Berlin branch of the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum. The presence of the waxwork, which depicted the Nazi dictator sitting at his desk in his bunker shortly before he committed suicide in 1945, in the new museum led to criticism in German media over recent weeks. But the museum's defenders argued Hitler's role in German history must not be ignored. Hitler was shown with a sullen expression, his head slightly down, and one hand on the desk. (See picture above) Police said the man is now being investigated for causing damages and bodily harm -- the manager was slightly injured in the leg -- but that he would probably be released later in the day. Berlin is the eighth wax museum for London-based Madame Tussauds, known for its lifelike waxworks depicting famous people including celebrities, politicians, sports stars, artists, and scientists such as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Albert Einstein. [End of report]
Now Im sure everyone knows who Hitler is whether you took History during your secondary school years or not. He is like one of the most famous figure in the world but for the wrong reasons of course. He is not like by many people, especially in Germany so I don't know if creating a wax of Hitler in the country itself is a good idea. There is no doubt that Hitler's role in German history must not be ignored but at what at expense? If the wax is being done to honor him in someway, then I think most people will be getting a wrong message. It would be like telling them that what Hitler did was right. Im sure that wasn't the real intention that the museum decided to create the wax but rather, it was done to remind the people how cruel Hitler was and that there are lessons to be learn that shouldn't be repeated again. But with a controversial figure like Hitler, there will always be people who disagree with such ideas and you can see why the man had decided to take things into his own hands and beheaded the waxwork but the security should have done better in preventing it. I saw the news of it earlier today and what is still left on the waxwork is only the desk. The museum have not made any decision on whether they will replace the waxwork with a new one, I would think they will but that wouldnt go down to well with the German public Im sure.
Since this is a blog and anyone from any country will be able to read my post, I will not say whether I like Hitler or not so that nobody will get the wrong idea. If you are close to me, then you should know what I feel about the man. I don't know if this is the only museum that has a waxwork of Hitler being display, because if I'm not wrong, there are other museum in other countries which already have a waxwork of Hitler but I cant remember where. If Im wrong, please forgive me. Another interesting thing when I saw the news today was that there is a 'No Phototaking' sign at the back of Hitler's waxwork. I dont know whether all other waxwork are included or whether it is only applicable for Hitler's waxwork, but if it is the latter, that is interesting. If I had the opportunity, I would love to visit one of the Madame Tussauds museum because their waxwork looks really realistic. It is probably the closest you will get to be with your favourite figures past and present. I just hope though that if they decide to put back a new waxwork on Hitler, they will place the waxwork in a glass box or something so that a similar incident won't be happening again.
The fact that the man was determined to destroy the waxwork shows how much hatred and discontent that the Germans still have towards Hitler. It might be unfair for me to say the entire Germany feels the same way as that man, well at least not to the extent of beheading the waxwork but if you ask me, it would be much better that there will not be anymore waxwork of Hitler. There is too much bad memories that he brought upon on the country and it would be better if we leave the bad memories in the past and not bringing it up again.
*The report was taken from CNN.
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