Cover up of Nazi art ahead of World Cup 2006

According to 'The Times' today there is something of a backlash taking place in Berlin at the moment, with a number of high-profile Jewish activists calling for a number of the City's statues to be covered-up ahead of the World Cup, or in some cases melted down or pulverised.

The statues in question are all remnants of Germany's Nazi past and were commissioned by the Nazi party, or Hitler himself. The works are mostly to be found around Berlin's Olympic Stadium which was built for the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

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The works are by a number of artists, but principal amongst these are Arno Breker, Karl Albiker and Georg Kolbe. Breker, who died in 1991, was described by Lea Rosh, one of the campaign's leaders as 'a top Nazi', even though he in fact was never even a member of the NSDAP.

The argument continues, though it seems unlikely that anything will be done - many supporters of the statues argue that much of 20th Century art has to do with dictatorship, and that the celebration of the body does not have a direct link to racism or anti-semitism.

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Decathlete, by Arno Breker

i really think these jewish activists should concentrate on demolishing the palastinien state and not german art created between 33 and 45. oh lets destroy the fountain near the park cafe as well! and dig up the autobahns. blow up the haus der kunst, eradicate the music school...

(tounge in cheek)

arno breker studio is still in exsistance here in munich. blow it up.

Germany's handled its past pretty well compared with many places if you ask me - you don't see African or Indian citizens campaigning that Buck Palace should be burned down, or that India's infrastructure and legal system should be ripped up and started again.

Having said that some people think that art like Breker's, in particular stuff like 'Decathlete', is subtley racist - portraying Aryan men, and thus, by implication, suggesting weakness in other races and cultures.

Personally I think the art should remain on show, in much the same way that the tanks are still present in that memorial on Str. des 17. Juni...

I wouldn't feel weak in comparison to this statue.. he's pretty small.

How can art be racist or anti-semitist or anti-anythingist?

Art should be a free medium of expression.

Will they remove these swastikas from the Oettingenstrasse side of the Wirtschaftsministerium?
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The ones on the Prinzregentenstrasse side have been sawed out very nicely indeed.

It's small because it's a picture, I'm sure it's bigger than that in real life

In fairness even Nazis hesitated when it came to statues of naked men with raging hard-ons. A lot of the art, particularly that associated with National Socialism portrays the naked male form. What the average penis size is I couldn't say - go google it and get back to me with your results will you?

True, and he only has one. Whats that all about?!?!?

Why would you want to saw them out? They obviously denote 'good luck' from the Hindu symbol 'svastika'.

But he's neither blonde nor blue eyed...

I'm sure you're joking Hazza, but for the sake of clarity...

Nor was Hitler - blonde and blue eyes never entered any kind of Nazi racial doctrine - it was simply an expression of Nordic warriors in various paintings, and of course in Wagnerian opera (of which Hitler was a massive fan - and you don't see people asking for Wagner CDs to be destroyed).

I find the statue sexist and demand for it's removal immediately!

@Jimbo

From the Jewish Virtual Library

The Haus der Deutschen Kunst still houses some Nazi art. It even has swastika-motif mosaics in the celing panels outside see this link. there's a good link to statues on the site too.

Wooo look!!! I'm famous.

he did women aswell, most notably the one which stood before the doors of thr reichkanzeleri. i personaly think it looks homosexual. and the for mormalises what is not acceptable. maybe thats why peole are up in arms about it?

The building was the Luftkommando (Air Force) Headquarters; in this case the decorations are not a good-luck Hindu symbol. Or else why did they saw them out on the representative side?
EDIT: Didn't mean to hi-jack the Berlin thread.

I understand their point but I agree with gideon.

I think you would have to remove a lot of German infrastructure and ban the VW Beetle too if you wanted to erradicate anything built during the nazi administration.

Why?

@sarabyrd

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, not serious in any way.

Jesus - I stand corrected. Might as well strike out all forms of art pre around 1950 as the writer/author/artist was almost certainly racist in some way shape or form...

Here's another of Breker's works, this time with a chica and a chico (it's called 'Grace' by the way):

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EDIT: And finally, 3 Lions will buy any man or woman, who can attribute this quote, without using google, a Helles:

Absolutly, I think thats why I find books etc written by people with extremist views, and especially views that conflict greatly with mine, so refreshing, because its something a little bit different to the sanitized PC mass media we get fed otherwise. And only being exposed to opinions and views that one agrees with, neglects to be engaging and challenging.

If anything should be banned, its squeaky clean bullshit that tries too hard not to offend anyone.

OK, you just never know with Newbies