Jews call for Tussauds to make Hitler look defeated

Jewish campaigners have asked Madame Tussauds to consider altering its Hitler waxwork to make it appear more "vulnerable" after visitors persisted in posing provocatively next to the figure.

A spokesman for the UK Zionist Federation said that making the Nazi dictator look less "upright" and more "defeated" might discourage guests from making "sieg heil" salutes and other inappropriate gestures.

The call follows complaints from an Israeli holidaymakers who witnessed children copying the Nazi salute for family photographs. Madame Tussauds apologised and assigned staff to prevent similar behaviour. But the Standard revealed yesterday that the "guards" had not stopped youngsters from continuing to pose.

Stefan Kerner, the federation's director of public affairs, said: "At the end of the day Hitler has a place in history. I would like to see him in the Chamber of Horrors myself but he was a significant world leader.

"I have no problem with Adolf Hitler being displayed. However, we want to display him in a more vulnerable position or situation. Or he could be placed in a way that people can't take photographs beside him."

A spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds said: "We are standing by our position. If our members of staff see someone behaving inappropriately they will stop it."