Adolf Hitler? In most western countries he is viewed as history’s most evil man, and almost all are aware of the horrific genocide he was responsible for, with many having had family fight and/or die in the war against Nazi Germany.
However, in Asia, Hitler is a far more distant figure. This distance might be an explanation for the bizarre case of Hitler restaurants and bars that can be found throughout Asia.
Here are some photos of these strange Hitler-themed establishments:
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In 2006, the restaurant Hitler’s Cross opened in Mumbai, India:
From the Associated Press:
When Hitler’s Cross restaurant opened in a Mumbai suburb Sunday, local politicians and movie industry types were on hand to celebrate beneath the posters of the Nazi leader and swastikas.
“It’s really made people very upset that a person responsible for the massacre of six million Jews can be glorified,” Elijah Jacob, one of the Jewish community’s leaders, said on Wednesday.
But owner Puneet Sablok has refused to back down. Apart from Mumbai’s 4,500 Jews, there has been little controversy in India, where Holocaust awareness is limited, Adolf Hitler is regarded as just another historical figure and swastikas are an ancient Hindu symbol, displayed all over to bring luck. There are just 5,500 Jews in all of India.
Soon after the article was published the restaurant’s owner backed down and changed the name of the restaurant.
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This Hitler Bar, which was located in Busan, South Korea, caused a lot of anger in the foreign community.
The website Pusanweb interviewed the owner of the bar, who said the following:
I wanted to design a beer bar with something shocking that would attract the young generation. Beer got me thinking about Germany (the home of beer) which made me think of Hitler.
[...]
….he is no different than Alexander the Great or Gengis Khan. They were all conquerors who killed many people and they are all ‘big men’ in the sense of their notoriety living on long after they died.
The owner eventually changed the name of his bar to Ditler’ and then to ‘Ceasar’.
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Modern Bar Hitler (South Korea), photographed by Lynxsquared:
Inside Modern Bar Hitler:
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A charming sign for a Hitler bar in Korea, photographed by Oronzo:
A Korean Hitler bar in Daejong South Korea, captured by photographer Modrob:
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Another Hitler Bar in Busan, South Korea (From the The Gates of the Minjok, an article by Michael Hurt about the nazi roots of modern Korean national identity) :
From the same article:
The picture I should have taken was of another Hitler bar, this one way down on the coast in Sunchon, and which I ran across in 1994 – doesn’t exist because I was simply in too much shock at the time to have the foresight to take a picture. I tend to think, though, that since many trends in the big city get followed by small towns – and not the other way around – I tend to think that there were more Hitler bars peppered across the peninsula. And given that many other expats have told me stories of “their” Hitler bar from their own cities, I’m actually pretty sure of this.
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Inside of a Hitler Bar in Busan, South Korea (from Flickr photographer Cfarivar)
A flier for the same Hitler bar:
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A Japanese tempura restaurant with a hitler-ish mascot (from Cityskip):
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A LOL-tastic Hitler costume, which can be found on the shelves of party stores across Japan:
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deutsche – als reply auf 3D’s msg
ihr solltet den wiederstaenigen einen namen geben, wie bulgarien’s voivoda der bulgarien aus den figgten der tuerken befreit hat
cheers / mb
I think it’s a great idear!
It’s all history now and everyone should get along with it.
@Sally Smith:
“it would qive me qreat pleasure to throw them in Aushwitz.”
wtf is wrong with you?! That’s totally childish and looks like you are a friend of fascism! If you were an adult, you don’t say stupid things like that.
By the way, it’s still spelled “Auschwitz”
Japan…not so fast…Japan…knows Hitler…they had a strong alliance with Hitler…
If Asians don’t know about the Shoah…that is their problem…
Could you imagine…if someone opened up a Buddha Bar…poking fun of Buddha…?
Asians who are enthused with Hitler…are simply foolish…because Hitler hated all non-white people…
Last I checked Asians are not white…
Hitler to them is just like Genghis Khan to most Americans – a figure from the past whose legend lives on long after his demise. That said, they really ought to take a closer look at history and what this guy did.
Stalin was much fuckin’ worse. Drop it, most of you people don’t even know how Hitler even came to power, let alone when or other such easily learnt facts.
Grow up with your leg jerk political correctness.
I think that the idea of a Hitler themed bar, or restaurant is so freaking stupid. The people who came up with this idea obviously feel no compassion for all of the people who were killed because of Hitler and his fascist regime. The creators of this long spread of this ignorance across Asia are soulless bastards.
Building a business where the image of a man who killed countless innocent lives is used for a mascot is simply retarded. Sure, it may be a good publicity stunt. Eating at a Nazi themed restaurant is certainly taboo and would bring in quite a few people for the sole fact that they want to try it out.
but the fact remains the same. He killed innocent people and the seriousness of it shouldn’t be cheapened by a cutely designed store.
What’s next? A gift shop themed around Osama? For some reason I think people would be angry about it. Which is funny because he hasn’t been even nearly as effective at killing civilians as Hitler was.
What ever happened to CEO’s who had a bit of class?
I used to look down on the wapanese, who believed in the superiority of Asian culture. Thinking of it as their true home, despite the fact that they would be regarded there as they are here: greasy nerds.
After reading this article, I agree with them.
Not a Hitler bar, but a Hitler mural in an alley in downtown GyeongJu. Had no idea about the Nazi fascination until we found this mural and I started googling:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65712077@N00/4124955700/
we western people wear and love the imperial japan simbols like the imperial japanese flag without knowing the atrocities that were done under that symbol.
http://www.nickgrantadventures.com/japan_B_files/Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Flag.jpg
ask a chinese grandfather what he or she thinks about it.
When will we have a Osama Bin laden Bar ? . How about a not using his name and just using outright ” the Genocide Bar” . Voluntary ignorance !
Hypocritres,
Right here in NYC is a trendy co-op named “Red Square” with a statue of Lenin on the roof. He and his friends burned and looted more churches than Hitler did synagogues.
We also have “the Red Bar”,very popular and abounding in Stalinist ( Stalin? Who was he? ) iconography. Not to mention the thousands of hipsters walking around with Mao ( killer of millions ) badges on.
This has gotten so silly that if you try to have a serious historical conversation in public and mention the name “Hitler” you can hear a pin drop.
When the left finally admite to their own crimes I’ll take their whining about silly bars with WW2 German themes seriously. Grow up.
Damned! Unfortunately the Jews running the World media and financial institutions usually get their evil way.
God help us all.
gotten so silly that if you try to have a serious historical conversation in public and mention the n
Caesar killed way more people than Hitler…
ahahahahah
suck that jews
Hitler’s regime did the 3rd biggest genocide in the 20th century. Only Mao Ze-dong and Stalin were more “productive”. (In the last years there were some products, services, which were marketed with their names.) And what about Napoleon, Churchill, the Roman ceasars? And the Spanish, English, French, Dutch, Portugese conquerors of the American continent? They completely demolished whole nations, cultures! Hitler was really-really evil, but far not the only one in history…
I think this is so funny. Not sure what to think.
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I know nobody will read this, but the first one is grammatically incorrect. It should say “Hitler’s Cross” but it says “Hitlers’ Cross.” Unless it is referring to his family (in which case the plural would be called for), it is incorrect.
Its kind of funny being a Grammar Nazi here. That just makes me laugh.
As much as I loathe Hitler, you have to understand from an Asian view he’s not at patch on the crazy murderousness of Mao – who killed like 8 times as many people total and who’s political system continues to kill people after he’s already gone. Sure they know Hitler was awful and killed tons of people – nobody is saying that was a good thing – but he misused our Swastika and whatnot (don’t really want to get into the details but a Bing or Goggle of “nazism” and “tibet” will get you a few hits to explain this). Now granted I hate the guy but if you compare him to say Pol Pot or some other crazy Asian dictator that many of these cultures have had to deal with, sure he’s bad – but only slightly worst in comparison.
Plus how many times have westerners co-oped Asian symbols (especially Hippies, New Agers and 60′s Era Musicians) and just take our stuff and mix it together out of context for what it’s about and with other practises not contextually related. Frankly I don’t see how this is any different as much as I’d never go there because Hitler disgusts me.
If made really bad or/and really evil things,ppl won’t see or forgive other bad things,can see really good for just good stuff.
made Hitler was really evil so ppl don’t see or forget other ppl did bad.
There are bad ppl coz we can see hero r cool on movie or wherever.
Original the symbol was Buddhist symbol.
you can see the symbols on Buddhist country of map.
when you look for temple
idk why Nazi used the symbol…