Wax Hitler doll
צילום: רויטרס
Don’t hide Hitler
Raanan Shaked says wax museum’s decision to display Hitler doll is the right move
In principle, Adolf Hitler should be turning in his grave with joy over the fact he is not alive these days. Somehow it doesn’t appear to me that it would work today, that thing with the weird haircut, the stupidest facial hair in the history of mankind, and the abrupt body gestures. Come on, the ‘80s are behind us, and really, after the ‘70s we just lost patience for strange things that one can do with facial hair.
And yet, last week the talkbackers slammed the Madame Tussauds wax museum Berlin branch’s decision to place a doll of Hitler on permanent display. Museum management decided that Hitler plays a part, as grim as it may be, in German history, and if we wish to instill in our children the “never again” heritage they should be able to see Hitler at the museum.
It appears that the debate is needless. Hitler is one of the most fascinating exemplars in recent history, a sort of lightening rod that contains, in our perception and imagination, the toxic essence of perfect human evil. Hitler was and will remain the unchallenged champion of evil and the man who unquestionably controls the entrance to the lowliest levels of humanity.
This is why Hitler biographies continue to take over bestseller lists and movies that attempt to portray the story of the psychopath as a young artist draw huge crowds. This is the reason why “Hitler” by Ian Kershaw was translated into two thick volumes in Hebrew and was still sold like a fresh bun at the end of Passover.
Adolf Hitler cannot but fascinate us, and it’s hard to blame him: the soul of this hateful person stars in the nightmares of Israeli children and justifiably serves as a mystery that basic humanity finds it difficult to stay indifferent to. It appears that in every generation, if only we are able to solve the Hitler riddle, we will learn something about the limits – and mostly absence of limits – of human evil.
Hitler as a reminder
Therefore, Hitler must be placed in Madame Tussauds, and as Israelis we should have a direct interest in seeing him there. Hitler denial – making him disappear, hiding him, and making him forgotten – is a blatant potential opening for Holocaust denial. If Hitler is not there, the awareness of his actions won’t be there either. If we have no discussion, which may start at Madame Tussauds’ childish museum, there will be no memory.Hitler is not displayed for reasons of amusement or art, but rather, as a reminder. The visitors to the museum will surely stop by his doll and scrutinize the frozen face in yet another failed attempt to interpret, penetrate, gain a trace of understanding into the roots and essence of evil.
Hitler is a popular and proper starting point for diving into the swamp of the Holocaust. We must not make him disappear.
