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May 24, 2022 - updated June 2, 2022.

The Hitler Forgery Industry

to Hitler Forgery Industry main page - to Droog Magazine

1937 | Trade | Certificates of Authenticity


The strange business of selling fakes, forgeries and other concoctions attributed to Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) and other Nazi criminals.

Introduction


In the 1930's the Hitler forgery industry was in full swing. In Nazi publications reproductions of alleged Hitler watercolors were published. Some of which were authentic, but others were very likely not made by Hitler, but by
ghost art painters. At the same time 'normal' forgers were active.


Content


Hoffmann's portfolio (March 1937)
"Hitler as painter" (July 1937)

Exchange rates/value of money 1937



Hoffmann's portfolio


In 1935 the first edition of Adolf Hitler / Aquarelle was published. In 1937 followed by the second edition.

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports:

BERLIN, 15 March. Own telegraph) - Adolf Hitler's chief photo-grapher Heinrich Hoffmann is publishing a folder with reproductions of watercolours of the Führer, which he painted on the Western front during the war years. Hoffmann, one of the first members of the National Socialist party, placed his entire fortune at the disposal of Hitler's movement during the years of struggle and difficulty. He is among Hitler's closest friends. Since the founding of the party, he has accompanied the Führer on all his trips by train, car and aeroplane, of which he has made countless photographic recordings. When National Socialism took over the reigns, Hoffmann acquired a kind of monopoly for taking photographs in the immediate vicinity of the Führer and during the movement's major political celebrations. A daughter of the well-known photographer was married to the Reich Youth leader Baldur von Schirach."

Original text: “BERLIJN, 15 Maart. Eigen tel.) — De lijffotograaf van Adolf Hitler Heinrich Hoffmann geeft een map uit met reproducties van aquarellen, van den Führer, die deze tijdens de oorlogsjaren aan het Westelijk front heeft geschilderd. Hoffmann, een van de eerste leden der nationaal-socialistische partij, heeft in de jaren van strijd en moeilijkheden zijn vermogen geheel ter beschikking van Hitler's beweging gesteld. Hij behoort tot Hitler's intiemste vrienden. Sedert de oprichting der partij begeleidt hij den Führer op al zijn reizen per trein, auto en vliegtuig, van welke reizen hij tallooze fotografische opnamen heeft gemaakt. Toen het nationaal-socialisme de regeering over-nam, verkreeg Hoffmann een soort monopolie voor het maken van foto's in de onmiddellijke omgeving van den Führer en tijdens de groote politieke feesten der beweging. Een dochter van den bekenden fotograaf is gehuwd met den rijksjeugdleider Baldur von Schirach.”

Map met aquarellen van Hitler. Aan het Westelijk front vervaardigd.  - Lijf-fotograaf verzorgt de uitgave. De Telegraaf, Amsterdam, 16-03-1937.

https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:110577210:mpeg21:a0100

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HITLER AS PAINTER



Berlin, Saturday.

“Chancellor Hider stands at the head of German art, not only as patron, out also as its greatest master,” declared Governor Adolph Wagner in opening the Munich Art Festival.

England is aware that Hitler has painted several pleasant water colors, but did not suspect that such an ambitious claim would be based thereon.

Hitler as painter. Sunday Times, Perth (Australia), 18-07-1937. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58784499?searchTerm=hitler%20painter#


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Exchange rates / value of money 04-01-1937

 
1 UK pound = 4.91 US dollar.
1 US dollar = 0.20 UK pound (in decimals) 
1 UK pound = 105.13 French francs
1 French franc = 0.0095 French francs
1 UK pound = 29 Belgian francs
1 Belgian franc = 0.03 UK pound
1 UK pound = 93.28 Italian lire
1 Italian lire = 0.01 UK pound
1 UK pound = 8.96 NL guilder
1 NL guilder = 0.11 UK pound
1 UK pound = 12.19 Reichsmark
1 Reichsmark = 0.08 UK pound
1 UK pound =  22.40 Danish krone
1 Danish kron = 0.04 UK pound
1 UK pound = 19.90 Norwegian krone
1 Norwegian kron =0.05 UK pound
1 UK pound = 19.39 Swedish krone
1 Swedish kron = 0.05 UK pound
1 UK pound = 21.36 Swiss francs
1 Swiss franc =0.046 UK pound
1 UK pound = 66.50 Spanish pesetas
1 Sp. peseta = 0.015 UK pound


Geld- & wisselmarkt. Kalme markt. (...) Londen. De Telegraaf, Amsterdam, 04-01-1937.

https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:110577149:mpeg21:a0362


CPI Inflation Calculator – for US dollars.This inflation calculator uses official records published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/

Convertisseur franc-euro. Pouvoir d'achat de l'euro et du franc. Le convertisseur franc-euro mesure l'érosion monétaire due à l'inflation.
https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2417794


Historischer Währungsrechner. Österreichische Nationalbank (Geldwertrechner).
https://www.eurologisch.at/docroot/waehrungsrechner/#/


Value of the Guilder/Euro. International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam.
http://www.iisg.nl/hpw/calculate.php

© Compilation Bart FM Droog, 2020.