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September 5, 2008 1:15:16 PM CDT

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Wax Hitler Loses Its Head

Posted Jul 5, 08 9:01 AM CDT in

(Newser) – A wax model of Adolf Hitler at a new Madame Tussauds in Germany was decapitated by a Berlin man soon after the museum opened today, AFP reports. The man, who was arrested, “wanted to protest against Hitler's figure being on show,” police said. The model had sparked controversy, but the director of the German history exhibit said it wouldn’t make sense to leave the dictator out, reports the BBC.

“Seeing as we are portraying the history of Germany, we could hardly have left him out,” said a museum spokesman. Added a rep for a German Jewish council, “Erasing him from history is not going to bring the perished ones back.” The model was perched behind a desk so people wouldn’t pose with it or vandalize it. It portrayed Hitler in defeat, soon before his suicide in his bunker.

Sources AFP, BBC

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A wax figure of former German dictator Adolf Hitler is displayed at the Madame Tussauds Berlin Wax Museum Thursday, July 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
A figure depicting former German dictator Adolf Hitler is displayed at the Madame Tussauds Berlin Wax Museum on Thursday, July 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
A wax figure of former German dictator Adolf Hitler casts a shadow at the Madame Tussauds Berlin Wax Museum Thursday, July 3, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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