Johannes Heesters

Johannes Heesters Turns 105, Calls Hitler a 'Good Guy'

By JJ on

Actor and singer Johannes Heesters performs on stage in the "Theater am Gaertnerplatz" on November 13, 2005 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Jan Pitman/Getty Images)more pics »Dutch singer and entertainer Johannes Heesters turns 105 today and to mark the occasion, he called Nazi leader Adolf Hitler a "good guy" in an interview with a Dutch television station.

The clip was shown yesterday on the show "De Wereld Draait Door" ("The World Keeps Turning"). When asked about Hitler (who was a fan of his), Heesters told the interviewer "A good guy, that's what he was." His wife immediately jumped in and called Hitler a horrible criminal, giving Heesters a chance to backpedal. He didn't. Instead he quipped "I know, doll. But he was nice to me."

Nice to you or not, you don't need to take a course in public relations to realize calling Hitler a "good guy" is a bad thing.

Heesters, whose performances are still popular in Germany, has been unable to shake his image as a Nazi sympathizer in his native Netherlands since the end of World War II. He has tried repeatedly to redeem his reputation, but his work in Nazi Germany has all but cemented his fate with many. And his latest comments don't do anything to help the situation.

The AP reports:
Heesters said it gave him a "heavy heart" to know he was "not wanted in my homeland."

"Sure, I wanted to build my career. But...through no fault of my own, Adolf Hitler was one of the fans of my art. What have I done?" What do you think? Should Heesters be forgiven for performing in Nazi Germany? Vote here.