Overview

• On August 1, craftsmen dismantled the 1.7-meter fiberglass Maus statue and shipped it to a specialist workshop for damage assessment and repair.
• Matthias Körnich, director of WDR’s children’s programming, promised that the iconic figure will be reinstated once restoration is complete.
• Police in Cologne continue to pursue leads in the suspected arson after unknown perpetrators set the statue ablaze on July 26.
• In the days following the fire, passersby covered the charred statue with bandages and left messages of goodwill, underscoring its emotional resonance.
• A “Bin bald wieder da” sticker now marks the empty plinth at the WDR headquarters while fans can leave get-well wishes at reception.