The case went to court after the attacker, a 41-year-old former policeman, appealed. He had originally been handed a fine of 1,800 euros.

The attack took place in July last year on the opening day of the museum franchise's new location in the German capital. Since the assault on the wax impression of the dictator, the Nazi leader's effigy has been protected by a glass screen.

The defendant explained before the Berlin district court that he attacked the waxwork out of protest at the figure of Hitler being used as a commercial attraction at Madame Tussauds. During the attack, a security guard trying to prevent the beheading was also injured.