Kristallnacht memorial stolen from Jewish cemetery in Germany

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: Ha'aretz

A 750-kilogram monument commemorating Kristallnacht has been stolen from the Jewish cemetery in Cologne, less than a week after a memorial event marked 72 years since the German pogrom.

The thieves broken open the backdoor of the cemetery on Sunday night, German police officers told the local Express newspaper. Police believe the perpetrators detached the monument from its pedestal, loaded it unto a vehicle and drove off. It is still unclear whether the deed was motivated by anti-Semitic reasons, police are quoted as saying.

The Jewish community of Cologne released a statement saying it is "very distraught by this outrageous act" and called upon residents of the city to help retrieve the bronze monument.

Community leaders said they would pay a reward of 4,000 euros for clues leading to the recovery of the memorial.



Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/kristallnacht-memorial-stolen-from-jewish-cemetery-in-germany-1.325369

[leftynyc]

1. This is very bad karma

I see a future as a dung beetle in this garbage's future.

[Denninmi]

2. Hard to say the motivation.

Could be skinheads or could just be metal thieves.

There has been a tremendous problem with this in the Detroit area due to the poor economy and the high price of certain metals -- copper first and foremost. A lot of both decorative (works or art) and functional (plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling) metal objects have been taken. A number of thieves have been electrocuted in the process of trying to steal various types of copper wiring and other electrical equipment that was still live.

Still sad either way that someone would destroy a monument to such a tragic event.

[madrchsod]

3. there`s not enough metal to sell for scrap..

i`d say it is some neo-nazi`s basement.

[david_vincent]

4. Hard to say...

Yeah, it could well be that this was a targeted theft. It's true, on the other hand, that bridges and even whole buildings have been stolen in Russia by metal thieves. It's hard to say what is or isn't worth anyone's time if they're desperate. I think I lean toward the theory that this was done out of anti-Semitism.

Anyway: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071229/94678516.html