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German Court OKs Nazi Gnome

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 23, 2009 3:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – German prosecutors have decided a Seig-Heiling garden gnome doesn't violate the country's tough laws against Nazi imagery, the BBC reports. Artist Ottmar Hörl's creation, on display in a Nuremberg gallery, is intended to mock the Nazis rather than glorify them, officials decided. Prosecutors warned, however, that the stiuation has "certain abuse potential" and said nobody else should make Nazi gnomes.

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Artist Ottmar Horl's gnome gives the Nazi salute at an exhibition in Belgium. (Getty Images)

GHENT, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 05: An art installation titled 'Dance of/with the Devil' by German artist Ottmar Horl, featuring hundreds of Nazi-saluting garden gnomes, forms part of the the Flanders Expo... (Getty Images)

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It is pretty clear that garden gnomes are silly and that they do silly things. In 1942 I would have been shot by the Nazis for this. - Artist Ottmar Hoerl

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