Items commemorating the victims of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster have been stolen from a memorial in Munich, Germany, prompting sadness among Manchester United supporters and the foundation responsible for preserving the site.
The Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation (MMMF) said it was deeply saddened after a glass display case at Manchesterplatz was broken into and several treasured objects were taken. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, October 26, between 8am and 1pm local time.
According to local reports, the display case was smashed with a concrete stone. Among the missing items were a crystal sculpture that had been presented to Munich’s former mayor, Dieter Reiter, by Manchester United, and several commemorative medals.
The memorial honours the 23 people who died in the Munich Air Disaster on February 6, 1958, including eight Manchester United players. The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade when its aircraft stopped to refuel in Munich. The plane crashed while attempting to take off, leaving a lasting scar on the club and the wider football community.
The memorial at Manchesterplatz has become a place of remembrance for families of those who died and for supporters who travel to Munich. A memorial stone was installed in 2004, while the glass display case was added in 2020 to preserve some of the scarves, medals and other tributes left by fans.
Ifty Ahmed, chairman of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation, said the theft would not erase the memories of those who lost their lives or damage the longstanding friendship between Manchester and Munich. He emphasised the memorial’s importance to the victims’ families and Manchester United supporters around the world.
Mark Salzmann, chairman of Red Docs Munich, a Bayern Munich supporters’ group that helps care for the memorial, said his mother discovered the damage while passing the site. He described the stolen objects as unique and difficult to replace, although the group was considering working with the foundation to find suitable replacements.
Manchester United offered to pay for repairs to the display case, but the foundation decided to cover the cost itself. The broken glass was replaced on the same day the damage was discovered.
Munich police are investigating the incident. Reports said no direct witnesses had been identified at the time of publication, and the circumstances behind the theft remained unclear.
The incident has renewed concern over the protection of memorials dedicated to historic tragedies. For Manchester United supporters, the Munich memorial represents more than a collection of memorabilia: it preserves the memory of the players, staff and others whose lives were lost and reflects the enduring bond between the two cities.
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