You've got mail!

[giza]

BERLIN (Reuters) - German postal services are still delivering post for Adolf Hitler, even though the Nazi dictator has been dead almost 60 years.

German media reported that a postcard addressed to "Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, Reichstag, German Parliament, Berlin, Germany," was sent from an undisclosed location in England.

A spokeswoman for the Bundestag lower house of parliament confirmed on Thursday that the dictator's card had arrived at its intended destination. She declined to give any further details.

It's kind of amusing, but it does make mind boggle. Unless someone is playing a practical joke (which really isn't that funny), how can they not know what happened to Hitler and Nazi Germany?


On a related note, I thought of something else along those lines... apparently the fictional character of Sherlock Holmes still gets snail mail sent to 222B Baker Street. Rumor has it that a secretary still dutifully replies to all of the letters and tells the writers that Mr. Holmes has since retired. (I tried Googling to confirm/deny this, but wasn't able to find anything substantial in all the matches I got)

In my searches on Holmes, however, I did stumble across The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, which purports to have some of the Holmes stories, with footnotes to explain stuff that is no longer relevent in the present day. I'll have to keep an eye out for that at a used bookstore sometime.

Comments

[cyriljackal.livejournal.com]

So why not send a letter yourself to Mr Holmes and see what comes back.

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

If the Royal Mail is as good as the US Postal Service, maybe it just took 60 years for the letter to be delivered. ;>

[linnaeus.livejournal.com]

Maybe the Hitler thing is the neo-Nazi version of sending letters to Santa Claus...

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

"Dear Mr. Hitler, I would like a swastika armband for Christmas. I have been ever so strong and ruthless this year. Heil You!"

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Well, the German parliment is indeed in the Reichstag... of course now remodelled to look current like most German gvt. palaces... Dangit >_<

Maybe it was a political critique or something...

[tgeller.livejournal.com]

As a serious geek, I assume you know about Gutenberg's collection of Holmes stories, yes? If not, you do now. :)

[mindslide.livejournal.com]

This is the most interesting post on my friends list all week. Thanks.

[gen-talon.livejournal.com]

I wonder what would happen if one tries to send a letter to 'Basil of Baker Street'
Heh...Gotta echo linnaeus on the Hitler thing though.

[kovucougar.livejournal.com]

Well, if the address is valid there's no reason not to deliver it. It's not up to the post office to decide what should and should not get delivered after all.

[wolffit.livejournal.com]

Well, see, Hitler isn't really dead. He allegedly committed suicide, but that was just a stunt double. He's still alive and well (if old), living out his days as a janitor.

[netcrimes.livejournal.com]

You should send a letter to Holmes to see what kind of a reply you get!

[giza.livejournal.com]

Had I thought of this several years ago, I could have sent him a letter asking him to investigate Woodside (http://www.jahitchcock.com/cyberstalked/)!