BERLIN.- A wax figure of Adolf Hitler had its head ripped off soon after the opening of a new branch of Madame Tussauds here on Saturday, police said.
A 41-year-old Berliner had been arrested and faced charges of causing criminal damage and bodily harm, after he hit another visitor who tried to stop him, spokesman Uwe Kozelnik said. He was the second visitor to enter the museum.

The damaged effigy has been removed, but the museum remains open. A museum official says organizers will decide Monday what to do about the figure.

Critics said it was inappropriate to display the Nazi dictator in a museum alongside celebrities, pop stars, world statesmen and sporting heroes.

In order not to give the impression that Hitler was in any way a figure to be revered, he appears as a broken man in a mock-up of his bunker just before final defeat at the end of World War II.

Museum employee Stephan Koch said the damaged figure has been removed from the exhibition for now. Museum official Nathalie Ruoss said organizers would decide Monday what to do about the figure.

While Hitler has been shown in German school textbooks, television history shows and feature films like Downfall in 2004, critics said the Tussaud's show was using him for entertainment.