Even in Italy, the municipality of Montemurlo should only be known to those who know Tuscany, with around 19,000 inhabitants, the small town is located northwest of Florence.
Now, however, the place is making headlines with an ugly incident.
Strangers tampered with Hitler's tree decorations on the commune's Christmas tree.
"A serious incident tainted the festive season in Montemurlo," wrote the Italian commune.
In photos that the community published on Facebook, around a dozen red, round cardboard cards with Nazi images and the face of Adolf Hitler on the Christmas tree were to be seen.
"This is not a prank, I am deeply indignant," said Mayor Simone Calamai.
He spoke of a "very serious incident that attacks the values on which our republic and democracy stand".
Pictures of Hitler as decoration on the Christmas tree are “an insult” to the community, which maintains an anti-fascist tradition and commemorates the liberation of Montemurlo from the Nazis on September 11th every year, Calamai continued.
The municipality announced that the responsible party is now being investigated.
There are numerous surveillance cameras around the town hall, the images of which can now be viewed.
So far there have never been any problems with right-wing extremist groups in town, said a spokesman when asked by the dpa news agency.
fek / dpa
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