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December 22, 2020 - updated June 8, 2023.

The Hitler Forgery Industry

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1939 | Hitler's ban | 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 1933 Reinhold Hanisch was arrested in Vienna for the first time, on suspicion of forging Hitler watercolors. The case was dismissed, because of lack of evidence. In 1936 followed his second arrest - he died, probably of natural causes, whilst in detention.

Meanwhile, in Nazi publications reproductions of alleged Hitler watercolors were published, which were very likely nor made by Hitler, but by ghost art painters. At the same time 'normal' forgers were active.

If this was the reason, or one of the reasons why Hitler banned in March 1939 the publication of photos of his watercolors? Or did he realize that the works that once painted were of such a low quality that it didn't quite match with the Nazi propaganda image of Hitler-the-genius? We will never know.

Meanwhile, the NSDAP Hauptarchiv continued the project of tracing and registering all artworks made by Hitler. The outbreak of the war in September 1939 more or less ended this projects, as many NASDAP Hauptarchiv employees were called to arms.

Content

Hitler's ban (March 1939)
Exchange rates/value of money 1939

Hitler's ban of publication of reproductions of his watercolors.

On March 29, 1939 Hitler banned the publication of photographs of his watercolors. It is unknown why he did so.

Aktenvermerk für Pg. Schulte Strathaus. Betrifft: Veröffentlichung der Aquarelle des Führers. Hauptarchiv der NSDAP, eingekommen 31. Mrz. 1939. Bundesarchiv, NS 26/19-33.

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Exchange rates / value of money 03-01-1939

1 UK pound = 4,63 US dollar.
1 US dollar = 0,22UK pound (in decimals)
1 UK pound = 176,65 French francs
1 French franc = 0,0056 French francs
1 UK pound = 27,47 Belgian francs
1 Belgian franc = 0,036 UK pound
1 UK pound = 88,10 Italian lire
1 Italian lire = 0,01 UK pound
1 UK pound = 8,52 NL guilder
1 NL guilder = 0,11 UK pound
1 UK pound = 11,54 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 = 19,41 Swedish krone
1 Swedish kron = 0,05 UK pound
1 UK pound = 20,51 Swiss francs
1 Swiss franc =0,048 UK pound
1 UK pound = 100 Spanish pesetas
1 Sp. peseta = 0,01 UK pound

Wisselkoersen. Algemeen Handelsblad, Amsterdam, 03-01-1939.
https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=KBNRC01:000053935:mpeg21:a0305

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.
https://iisg.amsterdam/en/research/projects/hpw/calculate.php

Jérôme Blanc. Pouvoirs et monnaie durant la seconde guerre mondiale en France : la monnaie subordonnée au politique. International conference on War, Money and Finance, ” Monetary and Financial Structures: The Impact of Political Unrests and Wars ”. , Jun 2008, Paris, Nanterre, France. Pages 6, 11, 12, 16-17, 21, 22.