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Karl Marx statue gets World Cup makeover

By WTOP Staff

CHEMNITZ, Germany (AP) — Meet Germany’s biggest fan: Karl Marx.

A huge statue of the father of communism in the city of Chemnitz sports Germany flags on its cheeks. Authorities say they dressed up the 40-ton bronze head, unveiled by communist East Germany in 1971, to project a “friendly” image but they concede that reaction hasn’t been universally positive.

An outsize Germany shirt draped over Marx’s pedestal was stolen in the early hours of Friday and found damaged nearby a few hours later.

The bust stands in front of a facade bearing his words “Working men of all countries, unite!” A banner above the madeover Marx declares: “Football fans of all countries, we greet you!”

Chemnitz was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1953. After communism collapsed, residents voted in 1990 to restore its old name.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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By WTOP Staff
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