Although Adolf Hitler's influence was sensed mostly by the rest of the world than Germany, the country that he ruled with an iron fist, it was the German state that turned the fierce dictator into a taboo. Strictly confined to discussions of historical tragedy and national identity, Hitler's image wasn't to be used in any marketing context as a result of an unwritten rule. That is, until now, that a hat producer in Bonn decided to advertise his products by making use of the infamous Nazi dictator's image.

The ad campaign for the Hut Weber company places the iconic hair and mustache of Adolf Hitler next to a bowler-hatted stencil of Charlie Chaplin, who played the role of Hitler in The Great Dictator, bearing the caption "It's the hat." The print was created by the Serviceplan agency and it generated heavy controversy, although many young people, unaware of the deep implications of the historic facts, have expressed their approval of the commercial.

Despite the fact that Germany has made a lot of effort to ensure Hitler-related material does not go on sale in the country and even sought Italy's help two years ago in order to stop the importation of "Hitler Wine," which featured a picture of the dictator giving his worldwide-recognized salute, the small hat company in Bonn turned its plans upside down.

Although reluctant at first, Thomas Weber, the 43-year-old owner of the company, was rapidly won over by "the rather cunning idea and the craftiness carrying the simple, straightforward message that hats make people," and this is how the ad campaign got through. But, whatever people might say about it, they sure can't say that it worked, taking the Hut Weber hat company into the public's attention.