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Controversial Easter Bunnies Depicting Wartime Imagery Spark Debate at German Bakery
A German bakery has ignited controversy by offering Easter confectionery featuring tank-riding and gun-wielding sugar bunnies. Cafe Lieb in Tübingen reintroduced the figures after rediscovering original World War Two-era molds in their basement. The controversial Easter bunnies include designs showing rabbits operating tanks, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns – wartime imagery expected to be crafted from sugar, cream, and water, mirroring original wartime recipes. This German bakery‘s decision has spurred public discourse regarding the militaristic nature of the treats.
Nostalgia or Normalizing Militarism?
Ulrich Buob, the head confectioner at Cafe Lieb, told regional news outlet SWR that older customers recognize the designs from their childhood and purchase them as souvenirs. He suggested the themed Easter bunnies remain relevant today, particularly as Germany considers bolstering its military under Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Bakery owner Hermann Leimgruber defended the controversial confectionery as a tradition, arguing against unnecessary outrage. “It’s part of our history,” he stated. “You can’t deny it; children received tank bunnies at Easter, that’s how it was.”
Public Reaction and Criticism
Despite the bakery’s claim of nostalgia, some critics argue the Easter bunnies glorify Germany’s Nazi past. The anti-war Information Centre on Militarisation contends that even as sugary rabbit figures, the confections are far from innocuous.
Reza Schwarz, a member of the group in Tübingen, expressed concern: “I believe it trivializes and normalizes militarism. It romanticizes past wartime periods and disrespects those who suffered.”
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Voices of Disapproval
Passersby also voiced disapproval. One woman remarked, “Easter is about peace, not tanks; it’s completely inappropriate.” Another mother stated, “As a parent, I find it unacceptable, especially now.”
Media Outlets Weigh In
The Berliner Zeitung newspaper described the bunnies as historically dubious and in poor taste, viewing them as symptomatic of contemporary issues. The newspaper commented that “The Nazi past is transformed into nostalgic confectionery. A tank reminiscent of the Second World War, decorated for Easter – as if it were merely a harmless novelty.”
The Berliner Zeitung further stated that the “militarization of daily life is already widespread. Military advertisements on public transport, camouflage popcorn containers in cinemas – war is subtly entering our awareness, not as an emergency, but as commonplace, or even as an engaging accessory.”
In Germany, products celebrating the military are largely unpopular due to the nation’s history and ongoing reservations about a large military presence stemming from its Nazi past.