Munich Memorial Honouring 1958 Air Disaster Victims Targeted as Thieves Steal Historic Items

The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation (MMMF) has expressed sadness following the theft of treasured memorabilia commemorating victims of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster from a memorial in Germany.

The stolen items were reportedly taken from a glass display case at Manchesterplatz in Munich on Monday after the case was smashed with a stone.

According to a report by the BBC on Friday, Munich Police said the incident was believed to have occurred between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time.

The memorial stands at the site of the February 6, 1958, plane crash that claimed 23 lives, including eight Manchester United players. The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, then based in Yugoslavia, when the aircraft stopped in Munich to refuel before crashing during an attempted take-off.

Mark Salzmann, chairman of Red Docs Munich, said a glass sculpture originally presented to Munich’s former mayor, Dieter Reiter, was among the stolen items, alongside several medals.

Red Docs Munich, a group of Bayern Munich supporters, helps maintain the memorial by collecting tributes from football fans around the world and placing some of them inside the display case.

Reacting to the incident, MMMF chairman Ifty Ahmed said the theft would not erase the memories of those who lost their lives or weaken the longstanding relationship between Manchester and Munich.

He said the stolen objects might be treasured, but those responsible could not take away the memories, friendship or legacy of the victims. Ahmed also stressed the memorial’s importance to the victims’ families and Manchester United supporters worldwide.

Ahmed thanked Red Docs Munich for responding quickly and helping to repair the damage. The foundation disclosed that Manchester United had offered to pay for the repairs but that it had decided to cover the costs itself. The damaged glass was replaced on the same day.

Salzmann said his mother discovered the vandalised display while driving past the memorial and stopped after noticing something was wrong. He described the stolen items as unique and difficult to replace, although discussions were underway about potentially sourcing replacements with the foundation.

He added that the messages of support received after the incident reflected the memorial’s significance and the enduring friendship between Manchester and Munich.

The BBC said it had contacted Munich Police and Manchester United for further comments.