Russia's Kalashnikov Statue Had Embarrassing Error

Workers have to remove part of Moscow monument just days after it was unveiled
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 24, 2017 7:29 AM CDT
Russia's Kalashnikov Statue Contained Nazi Error
In this Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 file photo, a new monument of Russian firearm designer Mikhail Kalashnikov is unveiled during an official ceremony in Moscow, Russia. Just days after a monument was unveiled, workers have removed part of it that showed a German weapon.   (Pavel Golovkin)

Just days after a monument honoring AK-47 designer Mikhail Kalashnikov was unveiled in Moscow, workers have removed a part of it that showed a German weapon that many believe inspired the renowned assault rifle. The monument features a towering statue of Kalashnikov and an adjacent sculpture of St. George fighting a dragon with an AK-47-tipped spear, reports the AP. Metalwork on the plinth of that statue bore etchings of guns, one of which was discovered to be of the StG44 rifle used by Nazi Germany.

News reports said the gun images were ground off on Friday. Said sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov, per the Guardian: "It looks like this [mistake] sneaked in from the internet." State news agency Tass quoted Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky saying: "There's one big plus in this—now everyone will exactly know that in their designs the AK and the German assault rifle are absolutely different firearms." (More Kalashnikov stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X