“Hitler wine” case dropped

Austrian officials have dropped an investigation launched after a man was found to be selling wine and schnapps with Adolf Hitler on the label.

They said there was no proof that the labels break a law against glorifying the Nazi era.

State prosecution official Heinz Rusch said the investigation has come to a halt because of lack of proof that the man contravened that specific law.

The legal probe was launched last year after complaints that a website posting showed bottles with portraits of Hitler and the swastika.

The site offered sales of wine and schnapps in “nostalgic bottles of former historical greats”.

The man was identified only as Roland M, according to Austrian privacy laws.

Legal officials said he was motivated by profit, not ideology.

The prosecutor’s office said the man stopped the sales when legal action against him started.