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February 8, 2021 - Droog Magazine periodical for investigative journalism

Hitler's toilet seat?

Hitler's hair?

to Hitler Forgery Industry index | 2021 | to Droog Magazine

 

Introduction
|   'Hitler' objects at auction  |

Auction policies
| Address auction house



Introduction

At its Winter Auction 2021 the US based Alexander Historical Auctions (AHA) offers again a great number of documents and objects allegedly originating from the Nazi era, all said to be authentic. Some objects might be originating from 1933-1945, but the claims that these objects originate from high rankings Nazis are in many cases highly dubious, and in some cases even pure lies.

As before, the auctioneer used the most “spectacular” object, this time a toilet seat allegedly used by Adolf Hitler, as an instrument to gain world wide free publicity for his auction. Hitler sells – that's for sure.

Once again, not one of the journalists copy pasting the press release issued by auctioneer Bill Panagopulos, made any critical remarks about the dubious nature of this and other objects at this auction.


In the past Panagopulos sold many fake Hitler objects, such as as a telephone (in 2017, for $243,000), underpants (also in 2017, for $6,700) and a strange photo and flower collage (in 2018, for $11,250). Caveat emptor!


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'Hitler' objects at auction

Of the many allegedly Hitler and other Nazis related objects at this auction we've highlighted these objects:

Lot 510: "Adolf Hitler watercolor painting"
Provenance: Hermann Historica

Lot 511: "Adolf Hitler's personal shaving mug"
Provenance: Wolfe-Hardin

Lot 512: "Adolf Hitler's toilet seat"

Lot 513: "World War I body armor from Hitler's Berghof"
Lot 514: "Oil painting from Hitler's Berghof"
Lot 515: "Oil painting from Hitler's Berghof"
Lot 519: "Adolf Hitler calendar"
Provenance: Michael C. Borch

Lot 516: "Adolf Hitler's Linen Monogram Handkerchief"
Provenance: "Hitler's" underpants consignor

Lot 517: "A lock of Adolf Hitler's hair"
Provenance: Charles E. Snyder


Lot 510: "Adolf Hitler watercolor painting". Start price $10,000. Sold for $25,000.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "Original watercolor painting executed by Adolf Hitler, initialed 'A H' at lower-right and titled by him: 'Alt-Wien Kirche Maria am Gestade' at lower-left. A well-executed work, typical of Hitler's rather stilted style with the poor perspective and a total lack of human figures. This work is better than most other Hitler efforts in that he has added a number of detailed signs posted on a wall at bottom, and included the name and location of the structure. The painting measures 6 x 8 in. (sight), and is in a period mat and frame, 13 x 15.75 in. overall.

This same painting was last sold by Hermann Historica in 2016, Auction 72, Lot 7142 which description read in part: '......Stylistically consistent with two verified watercolours by Hitler with the same view, from the estates of the Italian minister Rodolfo Siviero and Eugenie (Jenny) Haug (1891-1944). Cf. 'Die Aquarelle Hitlers - Das wiedergefundene Werk - Zum Andenken an Rodolfo Siviero', Florence exhibition catalogue, Palazzo Vecchio, June 1984, catalogue no. 16. At the end of the war, Minister Rodolfo Siviero acquired 20 watercolours in South Tyrol from Gerda Bormann, the wife of Martin Bormann...who was commissioned to repurchase the watercolours painted by Adolf Hitler. Cf. Hermann Historica, Auction 50, 4 May 2006, lot 7431, a further watercolour by Hitler 'Maria am Gestade' from the estate of Eugenie (Jenny) Haug (1891-1944). As early as 1920, Jenny Haug was an ardent supporter of Hitler and a member of the Party, armed with pistols, she and her brother Hans Haug were Hitler's constant companions. The watercolour was a gift from SS General Karl Wolff to the property manager of the Palace of the Dukes of Pistoia in Bolzano, Gino Marri, whom he held in high esteem...' The work brought nearly $30,000 in that sale.

This painting is, in our experience, nearly identical in regards to subject, size, composition, technique, and perspective to almost every other authentic Hitler painting offered by us and other experienced auctioneers of Hitler's works. Having sold many Hitler watercolors over the past thirty years, we are completely confident in the authenticity of this example."

"Buyer's premium of up to 25.0%."


Comment by Droog Magazine: This works seems to be a very bad copy of the work known as Wien, Kirche Maria am Gestade (Florence 16), since 1945 or 1946 in Italian custody. The Italian version is probably authentic - but it is certainly not verified.

All believed to be authentic Hitler water colors are signed 'A. Hitler', not 'A.H.' 

It's true that this work was sold in 2016 by Hermann Historica, but as that German auction house has a very bad reputation and a rather shady history, the reference to it is not something that gives much confidence in the expertise of Alexander Historical Auctions (AHA).

As far as we know AHA hasn't sold a single authentic Hitler watercolor ever.

Sources:
2016 sale: Jaap van den Born & Bart FM Droog. 2016 - 'Hitler' bij Hermann Historica. Droog Magazine, Eenrum, 2018.
https://www.bartfmdroog.com/droog/niod/vervalsers.html#2016hh72r
Lot 510, AHA, 2021.
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-hitler-watercolor-painting_3834DF89F1


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Lot 511: "Adolf Hitler's personal shaving mug". Start price $7,500. Sold for $17,000.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "An extraordinary relic with un-shakable provenance, a porcelain shaving mug bearing Adolf Hitler's portrait, owned and used by Hitler at his Munich apartment and taken as 'spoils of war' by Jewish American Army officer Lt. Ben Lieber.

The mug, marked by distinguished makers K.P.M., stands 5.5 inches tall overall, resting on three gilt 'feet'. A 1.25 inch band of gold oak leaves encircles the piece, meeting at the front at a 2.75 inch tall oval portrait of Adolf Hitler in Brownshirt dress. The portrait, surrounded by gold trim, is brilliantly executed and of the best quality. The mug rises to a flared top rim 3 5/8 inches wide and trimmed in gold. At the rear of the mug is an ornate handler with lavish gold trim painted on the sides and on the edge of the handle. The bottom of the mug displays the K.P.M. maker's mark, with hand-painted 'Heil Hitler!', also 'Juliann Koch geb Krog.' (the artist) and the year '1932'. The rear foot of the mug bears a tiny chip, touched-up with gilt paint, otherwise the piece is in as-new condition.

This piece has sterling provenance. On or about April 30, 1945 Lt. Philip Ben Lieber of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion was one of the first soldiers to enter the private Munich apartment of Adolf Hitler at Prinzregentenplatz 16. He seized the best 'souvenirs' he could find, including Hitler's visor cap and Nazi 'brown shirt', his 'Blood Order' and other medals, a portrait of Hitler's mother...and this shaving mug, among other items.

Lieber's discovery was heralded in newspapers at the time, and was examined by respected dealer Ben Swearingen III. Lieber specifically mentions the shaving mug in a 1967 letter to collector David Mathes, who bought the mug in 1969. The piece is again mentioned in a notarized letter from Lieber's wife to Mathes in 1972, probably for purposes of resale.

In the meantime, in 1970, the balance of Lieber's collection was purchased by Mohawk Arms and then resold to dealers Wolfe-Hardin in 1994. At some point prior to 2014, Wolfe-Hardin also purchased the items in the Mathes collection.

In 2014, Wolfe-Hardin sold the Lieber Collection in its entirety to dealer Craig Gottlieb, from whom our consignor purchased this relic. Included with the mug is full provenance for the collection as provided by Mohawk Arms ca. 1985, including copies of letters and receipts from Lieber and Swearingen, newspaper articles, photographs, etc.; original affidavit citing the origin of the mug signed by Stephen Wolfe, Neil Hardin and Craig Gottlieb, and a copy of the Wall Street Journal, Mar. 26, 2014 with a story on the collection and photo of the mug on page six. A rare opportunity to purchase a unique presentation piece of the highest quality."

"Buyer's premium of up to 25.0%."


Comment by Droog Magazine:

What's the truth in all of this? Lt. Philip Ben Lieber from Shreveport (Louisiana), member of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, looted on or about April 30 1945 some objects from Hitler's Munich apartment.

The 1945 newspaper clipping. Unfortunately the last part is missing. Click on image to enlarge.

A Shreveport newspaper reported in September 1945 about the material he brought home: two of Adolf Hitler's uniform jackets and caps, “a picture of Hitler's mother encased in a small wooden container from which a swastika had been removed, Hitler's stationery box with his personal stationery and visiting cards in it, a small wooden box with several inexpensive medals and tie pins, including the SS pin” and some other small objects.

Lieber's “Hitler collection” was stolen in 1968 by his chauffeur, who sold the material to the New York Militaria dealer Peter Hlinka, who resold it Raymond Zyla of Mohawk Arms Inc.

In 1970 Lieber sued the dealers for the return of his goods. In the court case his collection was described as “it included Hitler's uniform jacket and cap and some of his decorations and personal jewelry.” Lieber won the case.

According to Wilbur C. Stump, in 2014: “Before returning the collection, Raymond Zyla and his brother Joseph called on Lieber's New York lawyer Charles Drake and offered what Raymond Zyla described in a 1985 deposition as "a large amount of cash". The offer was accepted and the collection remained in Mohawk Arms' possession.”

But in the meantime the Ben Lieber Hitler collection had miraculously grown in size: both Hlinka and Zyla (according to Stump "dealers whose reputations for passing off fakes and forgeries are well-known to the point of causing merriment amongst collectors") must have added objects to it. And more were possibly added by later dealers.

Stump: “The Ben Lieber Adolf Hitler Collection passed from Mohawk Arms to Wolfe-Hardin in September 1995 and was recently acquired by dealer Craig Gottlieb.” Stump published in 2014 this photo of part the Lieber collection:



The “shaving mug” is clearly visible – and it isn't on the rather bad photo from 1945. So, in all likelihood the mug -which in all likelihood possibly is a rather worthless Nazi souvenir - might be added to this collection sometime after 1968. The claim it once belonged to Hitler (for which exists no evidence at all) might persuade gullible collectors to pay more than $7,000 for this piece of kitsch.

Stump published this photo of another part of the alleged collection:


Click on image to enlarge.

This shows clearly how the fraudulent dealers operate: the jacket and cap might be authentic (or they might replicas, who's to say?), but the medals and belt were probably not looted by Lieber, but added after 1968 and were in all likelihood never possessed by Hitler.

Nevertheless, this set was sold in 2019 for €420,000 (the cap) plus €625,000 (the jacket and medals).

Similarities with the Anni Winter collection

The story of the Ben Lieber collection has many similarities with the story of the Anni Winter collection. It's a fact that both Hitler's housekeeper Anni Winter and Ben Lieber looted objects from Hitler's Munich apartment in the last days of April, 1945. Both collections were photographed in 1945-1950. And - oh wonder - the objects in these collections started to multiply ever since.

Sources

AHA, lot 511; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-hitlers-personal-shaving-mug_9184C7B932
Lieber vs. Mohawk Arms. 64Misc.2d206 (1970). Supreme Court, Oneida Couny, 29-09-1970.
https://www.leagle.com/decision/197027064misc2d2061220
Wolfe-Hardin = Stephen D. Wolf & n. Neil Hardin. wolfehardin.com (2007-2021).
http://www.wolfehardin.com/
Page with Hitler uniform sold in 2014 (archived): https://web.archive.org/web/20210203095103/http://www.wolfehardin.com/page8.html
Wilbur C. Stump. The Ben Lieber Adolf Hitler Collection. WC Stump Militaria Blogspot.com, 01-12-2014; https://wcstumpmilitaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-ben-lieber-adolf-hitler-collection.html
Michael Leiding. Hitlers Hat Medals and Gun Looted By US Soldiers On Sale. Austria Metro, 20-06-2019.
https://austriametro.com/hitlers-hat-medals-and-gun-looted-by-us-soldier-on-sale/
David Crossland. Boomtime for Hitler memorabilia. The Times, London, 05-10-2019.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boomtime-for-hitler-memorabilia-fm2dft0pj
Extended version on: https://www.droog-mag.nl/hitler/2019/boomtime-for-hitler-memorabilia.html

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Lot 512: "Adolf Hitler's toilet seat 'captured at the Berghof'". Start price $5,000. Sold for $15,000.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "Offered here is an item guaranteed to be one of the most eye-catching items one could ever add to a collection of World War II relics - the two-piece wooden toilet seat with lid removed by an enterprising G.I. from Adolf Hitler's bathroom at his retreat, the Berghof in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria.

The seat measures 19 in. front to back and 16 in. wide, with two chromed steel fittings joining the two pieces. These fittings have long threaded shafts which passed through the porcelain bowl, and the wing nuts that secured them were replaced once the seat was removed. The seat is set in an old, rather battered period shadow box along with two snapshots of Borch with his immediate superior officer at the 'Eagles Nest' at Berchtesgaden, and a satirical anti-Hitler newspaper clipping. Since the end of the war, this ensemble has remained untouched in the basement of the family's northeast home.

The ruins of the Berghof were entered by American M.P. Ragnvald C. Borch, one of the first Americans on the scene and fluent in German and French, when he was sent to liase with the French 2ieme Division Blindee (French 2nd Armored Division), the first Allied troops to reach Hitler's home.

According to a detailed letter of provenance signed by our consignor, Borch's son [Michael C. Borch], when he arrived on the scene, the soldier was told 'Get what you want.' He made his way to Hitler's bedroom, taking a World War I armored vest on display and two oil paintings. He saw the toilet seat and removed it, being asked by another M.P. holding a chandelier: 'What are you doing with that toilet seat?' The young M.P. smartly replied: 'Where do you think Hitler put his ass?"

The incident is mentioned in the book 'Hitler's Mountain,' a copy of which is sold with the seat. The letter also indicates that as an M.P., Borch was easily able to clear his 'souvenirs' for shipping home to his future wife.

Also included is another original photograph of Borch and the same officer sometime later outside Martin Bormann's bombed home, a copy of Borch's service record, and a 2001 New Jersey news article on the history of this incredible relic.

This is a one-of-a-kind piece! While a toilet removed from Hitler's yacht, the Aviso Grille, gained great notoriety after it turned up in a New Jersey gas station a few years ago, it was one of perhaps ten or twenty on that vessel. This example was from Hitler's personal bathroom, from as close to a 'throne' as the dictator would ever get. One can scarcely imagine the plotting the tyrant undertook while contemplating the world from atop this perch!


Comment by Droog Magazine:

What's the truth in all of this? Ragnvald C. Borch died in 1968. The first mentioning of this toilet seat dates, according Alexander historical auctions, from 2001, in a New Jersey news article. Shown is a copy of this article - but the date is not shown:


The New Jersey news article, allegedly from 2001. Click on image to enlarge.

The source is not a newspaper, but a biannual magazine titled Weird N.J. - a magazine with 'news' about UFOs, ghosts, Bigfoot and other legends, myths and mysteries. It was indeed published in 2001.

In the book
Hitler's Mountain (2007, reprints 2010 and 2012)  Arthur H. Mitchell this is described:

"
French veterans claim that in Berchtesgaden Americans also looted. This is borne out by one U.S. soldier who recalled “seeing men looting various things. He saw one man with a large chandelier on his back. Another man unscrewed a toilet seat and was carrying it home. He was making jokes about how Hitler’s ass probably had set right there.”

No name is mentioned and Mitchell's book isn't regarded as very reliable: "[Mitchell] relies upon unit histories and soldier memoirs rather than Military Government archival evidence. As a result, the attention paid to this potentially rich subject seems hurried and incomplete” - according to reviewer Seth Givens in 2012.


The looting of the toilet seat was also mentioned in this work Uncle John’s perpetually pleasing bathroom reader (2013), with this extra detail:


"
Borch died in 1968, and his wife, Helen, passed away in 2010. When she died, the toilet seat passed to their son Michael. He was the one who went public with the tale. “I think it’s time the story of the toilet should be told,” he told the the London Telegraph in December 2012."

We couldn't trace the London Telegraph article, but we did trace two other newspaper articles from December 2012, which are probably copies of the Telegraph article, in which the son tells for - apparently - the first time about this toilet seat.

He did so after both his father and mother had passed away. So nobody can confirm or deny the story told by the son. There's no way of telling if the man who allegedly looted a toilet seat in 1945 as described by  Mitchell was the same person as Sergeant Ragnvar C. Borch.

The additional objects


On this same auction more objects are offered that allegedly were looted by Sergeant Borch. These are lots 513, 514 and 515: a body armor and two oil paintings.  These make the story even more unbelievable. How was Sgt Borch able to carry a toilet seat, two oil paintings and a heavy piece of body armor?

So, given all these factors, the true origin of this toilet seat must be regarded as "unknown". It might be looted from the Berghof, or it might be a toilet seat without any historical connections, upgraded by some fairy tales. Who's to say?


Sources

AHA, lot 512; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-hitlers-toilet-seat-captured-at-the-berghof_41F439F9EA
Live Auctioneers: Adolf Hitler's toilet seat 'captured' at the Berghof.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/96917844_adolf-hitler-s-toilet-seat-captured-at-the-berghof

Obituary Helena Borch. The Star-Ledger, 23-03-2010.
https://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=helen-borch-elana-dilaura&pid=141049321

Seth Givens. Review of Mitchell, Arthur H., Hitler's Mountain: The Führer, Obersalzberg and the American Occupation of Berchtesgaden. H-War, H-Net Reviews. February, 2012.
http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=34579


Matt Quinton. The turd Reich ... toilet 'looted from Hitler's lair' revealed. The Sun, London, 11-12-2012.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/330291/the-turd-reich-toilet-looted-from-hitlers-lair-revealed/

NN. Wie mein Vater Hitlers Toilette stibitzte. B.Z., Berlin, 13-12-2012.
https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/wie-mein-vater-hitlers-toilette-stibitzte

Uncle John’s perpetually pleasing bathroom reader. Portable Press, San Diego (CA, USA), 2013.

Alexander von Schönburg. Hitlers Klobrille untern Hammer. Bild, Berlin, 01-02-2021.
https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/leute/leute/bild-kolumne-hitlers-klobrille-steht-zum-verkauf-75164940.bild.html

It's a Nazi khazi! Toilet seat looted from Adolf Hitler's Bavarian retreat could fetch £15k at auction. Daily Mail. London, 01-02-2021.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9208333/Adolf-Hitlers-toilet-seat-fetch-15k-auction.html

Dictator's 'throne': Hitler's toilet seat, looted from Bavarian retreat, up for grabs with starting bid of $5,000. RT, Moscow, 01-02-2021.
https://www.rt.com/news/514257-hitler-toilet-seat-auction/

Kunal Gaurav. Hitler's toilet seat looted by US soldier during World War II up for auction. Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 02-02-2021.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/hitlers-toilet-seat-looted-by-us-soldier-during-world-war-ii-up-for-auction-101612261766139.html

Caspar Naber. Hitlers 'hoogstpersoonlijke wc-bril'onder de hamer. AD, Rotterdam, 03-02-2021.
https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/hitlers-hoogstpersoonlijke-wc-bril-onder-de-hamer~a1ed6f0a/

Cécile D. Le siège de toilette d'Adolf Hitler mis en vente aux enchères. Sortir à Paris, Paris, 04-02-2021.
https://www.sortiraparis.com/loisirs/insolite/articles/242839-le-siege-de-toilette-d-adolf-hitler-mis-en-vente-aux-encheres

La lunette des toilettes d'Adolf Hitler va être vendue aux enchères (photos). Le Soir, Bruxelles, 06-02-2021.
https://soirmag.lesoir.be/353521/article/2021-02-06/la-lunette-des-toilettes-dadolf-hitler-va-etre-vendue-aux-encheres-photos

Paul Bernard. Auction: Hitler's Berghof toilet seat and Eva Braun's nighties. Opinion: Washington Secrets. Washington Examiner, Washington, 07-02-2021.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/auction-hitlers-berghof-toilet-seat-eva-brauns-nighties

Mark Sceurman, editor Weird N.J. E-mails to Bart FM Droog,  08-02-2021; 17.08 and 17.11 hrs C.E.T.
.

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Lot 513: "World War I body armor from Hitler's Berghof". Start price $2,000. Passed.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "Steel 'grabenpanzer' or body armor, recovered from the main entrance at Hitler's Berghof where it was apparently kept by Hitler as a reminder of his service in the trenches during World War I.

This chest plate measures approx. 17 in. across and 13 in. tall, solid riveted construction, with the painted marking 'H 9235' on the front. We presume this to be a museum cataloging number or possibly an equipment issue number. The armor lacks the bottom three 'lobster tail' type plates fitted to this armor, possibly lost in the bombing of the Berghof.

This relic was taken from the ruins of Hitler's Berghof by one of the first Americans on the scene, an M.P. fluent in German and French sent to liase with the French 2ieme Division Blindee (French 2nd Armored Division), the first Allied troops to reach Hitler's home.

According to a detailed letter of provenance signed by our consignor, the son of the M.P. who recovered the artwork, the soldier was invited to 'Get what you want' when he arrived on the scene. He knew this to be German body armor, and at the time believed it to be Hitler's own. The letter also indicates that as an M.P., he was easily able to clear his 'souvenirs' for shipping home to his future wife.

A 1970s inquiry with makers Krupp could not place ownership during World War I with Hitler himself, but there's no doubt that that the ex-trench runner kept this body armor as a reminder of his service in that conflict.

This relic was taken by the soldier at the same time that he recovered two oil paintings, as well as the seat of Hitler's commode, as mentioned in the book 'Hitler's Mountain.' Also included are copies of a photograph showing the M.P. at Berchtesgaden, his service record, and a 2001 news article. An important relic displayed by Hitler as a reminder of his own military service, for which he was awarded Iron Crosses, First and Second Class."


Comment by Droog Magazine:

It is highly unlikely that Hitler ever owned such a piece of body armor (Sappenpanzer). This kind of body armor was only issued to some German front line soldiers. Hitler served only a few days in the front line, late October / early November 1914 - after that he was a regimental runner, operating in the rear.


German WW1 soldiers with body armor.

The Imperial War Museum: "
First World War period German Army armoured breastplate of the type initially issued to front line troops in 1916. The equipment weighed between 20lbs and 24lbs (9kg and 11kg), reflecting the two variant sizes produced; 500,000 sets were issued to men on the Western Front. Capable of stopping low velocity fragments and shrapnel, the Sappenpanzer (trench armour) was, due to its weight, only practical for troops on sentry duty and machine gunners operating in static positions and was designed to be used together with the armoured brow plate that hooked on to the steel helmet."


Given Hitler's role in 1914-1918 it is highly unlikely that he ever possessed such body armor. And even if he had, he would have lost it when he was wounded at the end of WW1 and evacuated to a hospital in Germany.

So, whatever is the true origin of this part of a Sappenpanzer,  we can be quite sure that it was never worn by Hitler. Was it owned by Hitler after WW1? Possibly - but there exists no evidence supporting this theory.

Was it looted by Sergeant Borch? This is also very unlikely - this piece of metal is quite heavy - not the first thing to loot. It is also not mentioned in the 2012 newspaper articles, nor in the 2007 book.

Moreover: this Sappenpanzer is incomplete. A complete WW1 Sappenpanzer has nowadays  a considerable value (in Australia one was recently sold for 10,000 Australian dollars) - but the one offered buy AHA is quite incomplete - as the lower three parts are missing.        


Sources

AHA, lot 513; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/world-war-i-body-armor-from-hitlers-berghof_1E14B68A3A

Body armour (Sappenpanzer): German. Imperial War Museum, London, 2021.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30110403

WW1 German Trench Armour - Complete set - sold $10,000.00. Henry's Military Collectables, Fremantle (Australia). [seen 02-02-2021].
https://www.henrysmilitarycollectables.com.au/products/sold-items/ww1-german-trench-armour-complete-set-sold.aspx

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20201026041503/https://www.henrysmilitary
collectables.com.au/products/sold-items/ww1-german-trench-armour-complete-set-sold.aspx


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Lot 514: "Oil painting from Hitler's Berghof". Start price $5,000. Sold for $10,000.



Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "An original oil painting taken from the ruins of Hitler's Berghof by one of the first Americans on the scene, an M.P. fluent in German and French sent to liase with the French 2ieme Division Blindee (French 2nd Armored Division), the first Allied troops to reach Hitler's home.

The 25 x 20 1/2 in. oil on canvas depicts two seated women, the younger one at center showing her uplifted palm to an older woman in traditional garb standing before her. The older lady, a fortune teller perhaps, points to the young lady's palm. An older seated woman at left comforts the young lady, holding her hand as she speaks to a gentleman in the background.


The painting is signed 'L. Detouche 1859' at lower-right by the artist, LAURENT DIDIER LATOUCHE (1815-1882), a French painter of primarily moody group portraits.


The painting bears two professional repairs on the verso, and has a 12 in. vertical tear.

The painting appears to be in the original ca. 1940s green wood frame. According to a detailed letter of provenance signed by our consignor, the son of the M.P. who recovered the artwork, the oil was taken by the soldier at the same time that he recovered another oil, as well as the seat of Hitler's commode, as mentioned in the book 'Hitler's Mountain.' As he took the paintings he was asked by his comrades for his reasoning. He responded: 'He [Hitler] had to pass and look at them every day.' The letter also indicates that as an M.P., he was easily able to clear his 'souvenirs' for shipping home to his future wife. Also included are copies of a photograph showing the M.P. at Berchtesgaden, his service record, and a 2001 news article. An especially personal relic recovered just outside Hitler's bedroom, it's subject of particular interest!"


Comment by Droog Magazine:

Just as with lot 513, this work was not mentioned in the 2007 book or in the 2012 articles, as one of the objects looted by Sgt Borch, the father of the consignor.

If the work is an authentic Laurent Didier Detouche (not Latouche!), then it would have some value, at least €150* to €2000, undamaged. Lot 514 is however heavily damaged, so the restoration costs would exceed the value by far.

Then there's another problem with this work: if it is authentic and if it was owned by Hitler, then there's a big chance that it was stolen from a previous owner - which might cause considerable problems in the future.

But was it owned by Hitler? It seems strange that Hitler, who employed professional art connaisseurs to buy artworks for him, would exhibit a work from a mediocre artist as Detouche in his mountain resort? 

And why would any looter rob a heavily damaged painting from Hitler's villa?

So, whatever might be the true history of this work: buying it would be in all accounts a very unwise investment. 


Sources

AHA, lot 514; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/oil-painting-from-hitlers-berghof_7504BA3BA7

Laurent Didier Detouche (Reims, 1815 – Paris, 1882). #378. [Auction house] De Bacque, Paris. [Seen 02-02-2021].
https://www.debaecque.fr/lot/22460/5057609

Laurent Detouche Auction Price results. Invaluable.com. [Seen 02-02-2021].
https://www.invaluable.com/artist/detouche-laurent-om4e0zl8cq/sold-at-auction-prices/

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Lot 515: "Oil painting from Hitler's Berghof". Start price $4,000. Sold for $7,500.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "An original oil painting taken from the hallway outside Adolf Hitler's bedroom at the Berghof. The ruins of the Berghof at Berchtesgaden were entered by American M.P. Ragnvald C. Borch, one of the first Americans on the scene and fluent in German and French, when he was sent to liase with the French 2ieme Division Blindee (French 2nd Armored Division), the first Allied troops to reach Hitler's home.

The 9.75 x 8 in. oil on wood board in an impressionistic view of a barn in the countryside, in many ways reminiscent of Hitler's own works in the earliest days of his 'career' as a painter.

The painting is set signed 'R. Orsini' at lower-left, and it is quite soiled after 70 years. It is set in a simple wood frame, possibly original.

According to a detailed letter of provenance signed by our consignor, the son of the M.P. who recovered the artwork, the oil was taken by the soldier at the same time that he recovered another oil, as well as the seat of Hitler's commode, as mentioned in the book 'Hitler's Mountain.' As he took the paintings he was asked by his comrades for his reasoning. He responded: 'He [Hitler] had to pass and look at them every day.' The letter also indicates that as an M.P., he was easily able to clear his 'souvenirs' for shipping home to his future wife. Also included are copies of a photograph showing the M.P. at Berchtesgaden, his service record, and a 2001 news article.

Comment by Droog Magazine:

Lot 515 is a badly damaged and a low quality oil painting, that in no way nothing reminds one of the works believed to be made by the young Hitler. It's hard to imagine that Hitler would have exhibited a painting like lot 515 in the Berghof. Just as lots 513 and 514 it wasn't mentioned in the earlier publications about Sgt Borch, the father of the consignor.

If it was looted at all, then probably from a junk yard, long after the war.

Source

AHA, lot 515; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/oil-painting-from-hitlers-berghof_DB6471D8CF


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Lot 519: "Adolf Hitler calendar, possibly from the Berghof". Start price $100. Sold for $220.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer: "1937 German 'Skagerrak-Kalender', purportedly taken from Hitler's office at the Berghof in Berchtesgaden. The calendar measures 9.5 x 7.5 in. and has illustrated pages for each week of the year, the photographs showing various Kriegsmarine and other marine scenes.


Click on image to enlarge.

The page for the week of Sep. 1-7 bears the stamp of 'F.M.J. Rehse Archiv' in Munich, a private archive purchased and maintained by the NSDAP.

The cover is soiled, spotted, and chipped, and the first ten or so pages are disbound, else very good.

This relic was believed to have been taken from the ruins of Hitler's Berghof by one of the first Americans on the scene, an M.P. fluent in German and French sent to liase with the French 2ieme Division Blindee (French 2nd Armored Division), the first Allied troops to reach Hitler's home.

According to a detailed letter of provenance signed by our consignor, the son of the M.P. who recovered the artwork, the soldier was invited to 'Get what you want' when he arrived on the scene. He recalls that his father told him that this calendar was recovered from Hitler's office, though there is no explanation for the archive stamp.

As the soldier's unit also passed through Munich, the possibility also exists that the calendar was taken from the Munich Rehse archive. While at the Berghof, the soldier recovered two oil paintings, as well as the seat of Hitler's commode, as mentioned in the book 'Hitler's Mountain.' Also included are copies of a photograph showing the M.P. at Berchtesgaden, his service record, and a 2001 news article."


Comment by Droog Magazine
: This object isn't described in the book and news articles (see comments lot 512).

If the stamp print is original or made with a replica stamp is hard to say.


Left an authentic J.M.F. Rehse stamp print; right the version on the calendar. Click on image to enlarge.

The F.M.J. Rehse Archiv und Museum für Zeitgeschichte (Rehse Archive and Museum for Contemporary History) goes back to Friedrich Josef Maria Rehse (1870-1952), who has been collecting historical documents (Rehse Collection) since the beginning of the First World War. Rehse had been in personal contact with Adolf Hitler since 1921. In 1929 the NSDAP bought his collection for 80,000 RM. The collection changed its name several times between 1929 and 1938. Since 1938 it has been housed in Munich; today it is divided between the Bundesarchiv (Federal Archive) in Berlin and various other archives. Some of it ended up in the Library of Congress in Washington after the war (source: Provenienzwiki).

Even if the stamp print is authentic, it is impossible to say anything about the history of this particular calendar. But one thing is sure: there is not a piece of evidence that it once belonged to Hitler. 

Skagerrak-kalenders, which were probably printed in very high numbers, can be bought at European dealers for €9 (1936) to €80 (1938). Given the  bad state and the unknown provenance of the to be auctioned calendar its actual value is probably not worth mentioning.  

Sources

AHA, lot 515; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-hitler-calendar-possibly-from-the-berghof_53F4D6484E

F.M.J. Rehse Archiv und Museum fïr Zeitgeschichte. ProvenienzWiki - Plattform für Provenienzforschung und Provenienzerschließung, 2021.

https://provenienz.gbv.de/F.M.J._Rehse_Archiv_und_Museum_f%C3%BCr_Zeitgeschichte

Skagerrak-Kalender 1936. Booklooker.de [Seen 02-02-2021].
https://www.booklooker.de/B%C3%BCcher/Skagerrak-Kalender-1936/id/A02fT3S101ZZh

Kriegsmarine "Skagerrak-Kalender 1938. Tarnmilitaria, Soest (the Netherlands). [Seen 02-02-2021].
https://www.tarnmilitaria.com/product/german/equipment/kriegsmarine-skagerrak-kalender-1938


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Lot 516: "Adolf Hitler's Linen Monogram Handkerchief". Start price $1,000. Sold for $1,400.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer:

A monogrammed white linen handkerchief once owned by Adolf Hitler. The 17 x 16.5 in. handkerchief has a simple border and bears his embroidered initials 'A.H.' at one corner. In as-new condition.

Accompanied by a notarized letter of provenance directly from our consignor. In the letter, he explains that he is the grandson of the previous owners of the Parkhotel Graz (Austria) where Hitler stayed April 3-4, 1938 while traveling through the country, and that these items were left behind in his suite.

The prestigious and ultra-luxurious hotel remains in the hands of his family to this day."


Comment by Droog Magazine
: This handkerchief originates from the same source that cashed in on Hitler's alleged underpants in 2017. As there are several books in which Hitler's where-abouts from day-to-day are described, it must have been a piece of cake to concoct this story and to embroider Hitler's initials on the handkerchief.  

Source

AHA, lot 516; https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-hitlers-linen-monogram-handkerchief_D194905820


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Lot 517: "A lock of Adolf Hitler's hair". Start price $500. Sold for $1,800.


Click on image to enlarge.

Description by auctioneer:

An excessively rare relic, four very small strands of Adolf Hitler's black hair, removed from his personal monogrammed hairbrush which was recovered by an American soldier at Berchtesgaden.

The hairbrush was part of a four-piece personal grooming set, looted by 1st Lt. D. C. Watts of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne. According to Snyder's 'Treasure Trove: The Looting of the Third Reich' (copies of relevant pages included), the 50th arrived at Hitler's retreat one day after it was taken by the elements of the 7th Infantry. While surface looting was undertaken, Watt found a way into the system of tunnels and bunkers beneath the Berghof, where he apparently found this set.


Click on image to enlarge.

Sold with a color image of the complete set. Ex: Gettysburg Museum of History."

Comment by Droog Magazine: As far as is known 1st Lt. D.C. Watts never existed; he is a mythical figure, concocted by Charles E. Snyder, a notorious swindler, who was active as a Militaria dealer from the late 1960s until his death in 2015.

His book,
Treasure Trove: The Looting of the Third Reich, is a work like Adolf Hitler als Maler und Zeichner (a.k.a. Price) - a catalog of fakes and forgeries, in which also some authentic objects are depicted.

The reference to the Gettysburg Museum is quite revealing: we learned by it that this American "museum" is selling an "
Authentic Brick From Adolf Hitler’s Berghof (Mountain Home) And Camo Piece In Deluxe Collector’s Glass Case Certified By The Gettysburg Museum Of History. "Apparently after selling one brick, another magically appears in the museum's magazine, waiting for the next gullible collector. 

 



Sources

AHA, lot 517: https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/a-lock-of-adolf-hitlers-hair_C584E58BFF

"Authentic brick..." Gettysburg Museum of History,  [Seen 02-02-2021]
https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com/gettysburg-battle/world-war-ii-militaria/authentic-brick-from-adolf-hitlers-berghof-mountain-home-and-camo-piece-in-deluxe-collectors-glass-case-certified-by-the-gettysburg-museum-of-history-2/
Archived version:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210202185322/https://www.gettysburgmuseum
ofhistory.com/gettysburg-battle/world-war-ii-militaria/authentic-brick-from-adolf-hitlers-berghof-mountain-home-and-camo-piece-in-deluxe-collectors-glass-case-certified-by-the-gettysburg-museum-of-history-2/


Jaap van den Born & Bart FM Droog. Knacks with fake Hitlers. The fake Adolf Hitler watercolors sold as "authentic" by Charles E. Snyder for £115,000 to Jake and Dinos Chapman, late 2007/early 2008. Droog Magazine, Eenrum, 08-08-2020.
https://www.droog-mag.nl/hitler/2008/knacks-with-fake-hitlers.pdf

Bart FM Droog. Kunstjes met valse Hitlers: shock art-project uit 2008 blijkt gebouwd op bedrog. Reporters Online, Haarlem, 09-08-2020.
https://reportersonline.nl/kunstjes-met-valse-hitlers-shock-art-project-uit-2008-blijkt-gebouwd-op-bedrog/



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Terms and conditions of sale

"This auction is conducted under the laws of the State of Maryland.


(...)

All autograph material in this sale is guaranteed genuine for the life of the original purchaser (unless otherwise stated or if contrary to other provisions of these terms). Any autograph item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price only. Non-autograph items are guaranteed genuine for a period of twenty-one (21) days of receipt. If determined to be not authentic by two independent dealers or authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale within the twenty-one (21) day period the item may be returned for a refund of the purchase price only. Some lots may be sold in as-is condition and are marked as such in the description. These items are not returnable for any reason."


Source:
https://www.alexautographs.com/buy-sell/conditions-of-sale/
.

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Address auction house


98 Bohemia Ave, Suite 2
Chesapeake City, MD , USA
21915

www.alexautographs.com


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© Compilation Bart FM Droog, 2021.
Photos courtesy Alexander Historical Auctions.