Austrian flap over bell dedicated to Hitler

[TexasTowelie]

Photo By Hannes Kammerstaetter

This Oct. 21, 2004 photo shows a bell with Adolf Hitler's name on it in the castle of Wolfpassing, Austria. Ensconced in the belfry of an ancient castle where it was mounted by fans of the Nazi dictator in 1939, the bell has tolled on for nearly 80 years. It survived the defeat of Hitler’s Germany, a decade of post-war Soviet occupation that saw Red Army soldiers bivouacked in the castle and more recent efforts by Austrian government to acknowledge the country’s complicity in crimes of that era and make amends.


VIENNA (AP) — Like many others in Austria's countryside, a tower bell above the red-tiled rooftops of Wolfpassing village marks the passing of each hour with an unspectacular "bong." But this bell is unique: It is embossed with a swastika and praise to Adolf Hitler.

And unlike more visible remnants of the Nazi era, the bell was apparently overlooked by official Austria up to now.

Ensconced in the belfry of an ancient castle where it was mounted by fans of the Nazi dictator in 1939, the bell has tolled on for nearly 80 years. It survived the defeat of Hitler's Germany, a decade of post-war Soviet occupation that saw Red Army soldiers lodge in the castle and more recent efforts by Austria's government to acknowledge the country's complicity in crimes of that era and make amends.

Some of those efforts have focused on identifying relics of that time and ensuring they're either removed or put in historical context. As an example, officials often cite government moral and material support for the restoration of the Mauthausen concentration camp, where a museum documents atrocities for school children and other visitors.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Austrian-flap-over-bell-dedicated-to-Hitler-4691636.php?cmpid=hpts

[shenmue]

1. Either send it to a museum

Or melt it down.

[chimpymustgo]

2. Like all the monuments to our Confederate traitors. Tear them down!

[Igel]

3. Nobody's noticed for 80 years.

It hasn't hurt anybody. Nobody's gone off to massacre Jews, gays, or Roma because of it. It's pretty much invisible except to a few people who didn't care.

Of course, now that they've made a big deal out of it, showing how awesomely important Hitler is to them and how he governs their actions and dictates their every move, something needs to be done lest loonies set up some sort of altar like (other) loonies did at Buckingham Palace for Princess Di. Wouldn't have happened without help.

Put it in its historical context. Tape a stickie note to it that says, "Adolf Hitler--bad! Bad!"


At some point they're going to start posting signs randomly all over the country. "If you dig here you may find a relic of WWII that is pro-Hitler. Digging on Austrian soil is strictly forbidden without permission."