The Dassler brothers never would have guessed that their family business would split and form two of the world’s largest sportswear brands, Puma and Adidas. Despite beginning in Herzogenaurach pre-World War II, recently Puma has been accused of creating a new sneaker with Adolf Hitler-esque features.
The pair of sneakers, called Storm Adrenaline, was photographed from above and looked alarmingly similar to Adolf Hitler with the slicked aside hairdo and mustache.
Although the Puma sneakers resemble that of Adolf Hitler is most likely a coincidence, owing to the design flaw being exposed on the internet, they have been flying off shelves. Because of its history in Germany, some people have expressed worry over Puma’s designers. Some customers claimed their new sneaker design had an “eight out of ten on the Hitler scale.”
Because the shoe resembled, and the name even recalled, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party’s military wing known as the Sturmabteilung (Storm Detachment), it was considered to be a blatant affront.
The connection between the shoes and Hitler was first made in Russia, which is currently under an authoritarian regime. Because the Russian customer did not appreciate seeing Hitler’s face every time they put on their sneakers, they sold them and brought attention to the design by sharing it with others on social media.
“That’s a good one,” the first person to see it said. “I never noticed. I used the shoe twice and never realized it until now. I have gotten rid of it. I’ve already sold it.”
A Brazilian customer inquired about the Puma Fierce sneaker’s resemblance to Adolf Hitler because it was “not positive” for the brand’s reputation. As a result, people have called for Puma to make a statement regarding the Hitler shoes and clarify whether they were on purpose or not.
“In Brazil, we like, and we buy Puma, and as customers, we would like you guys to say something,” the customer said.
Another person claimed that the company was employing the Hitler likeness as a “publicity stunt” to raise awareness of their business.
“They do look somewhat similar. Publicity stunt, maybe.”
The fact that people saw the face of the Nazi leader in the sneakers shocked some people.
“Adolf Hitler shoes? I did not see it directly. I think it’s a bit farfetched. Good, I have Adidas, not Puma.”
Hitler’s image, like that of Jesus, has appeared in a variety of unexpected situations. A youth worker spotted the shape of the roof and recognized Hitler’s face in 2011 when visiting a home in Swansea, Wales. The resemblance in the shoes is far easier to detect owing to the fact that this residence had a minor resemblance.
What are your thoughts on Puma’s shoe design?
