Police Investigate Man for Wearing Hitler Mask
February 20, 2002 7:28 am EST

BERLIN (Reuters) - A man who wore a Hitler mask at a carnival in eastern Germany and won a prize for "most original costume" faces charges of violating strict anti-Nazi laws, police said Wednesday.

A police spokesman said prosecutors were investigating the man on charges of breaking laws against glorifying the Third Reich because he wore the Hitler disguise at a public festival.

The man donned the mask for a carnival celebration in the town of Gehren.

"It still has to be determined what the charges will be," said the police spokesman in nearby Gotha, around 250 miles south of Berlin.

Bild newspaper reported Wednesday the man won the prize for "most original mask." However, at least one person at the carnival objected and complained to police.

Germany has strict laws making it a crime to deny the Holocaust happened, use the stiff-armed "Hitler salute" or display Nazi medals or other paraphernalia.

Participants in the country's carnivals often wear satirical masks of politicians.