Upcoming auction of Hitler’s reading glasses
Adolf Hitler saw the end of his insane dream of conquest when he looked through these glasses at the maps of Europe. The glasses that belonged to the Nazi dictator are valued at 4800 euros and could be sold at auction in Germany at the end of October together with other personal effects. But the sale of these pieces of history might never take place. Jewish groups have in fact protested that it is a shameful and macabre action that does not take into consideration the drama of the millions of victims of Nazism. Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, described the sale - incongruously titled “German Historical Collectables from 1919” - as “a shame and a stain on modern-day Germany” and requested that it be stopped immediately.
The auction is being organized by Hermann Historica of Munich, which hastily stated that it was aware that the items could be used unlawfully. To prevent this, it will request all buyers to sign a declaration that limits their use to “collectables”. But this may not be enough. They are artifacts that many who are nostalgic for Nazism would be very eager to have. Some items are very rare, such as the silver cigarette case with the initials A.H., estimated at 10,000 euros.
But who owns these highly controversial objects? The auction house preferred not to name the sellers, which created even more controversy. However, the history and, perhaps, the provenance of some of the articles is known, such as the special edition of “Mein Kampf” which is part of the estate of Nazi politician and Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess. There is a dedication in the book by the dictator: «To Rudolf Hess, my faithful companion in prison, from Adolf Hitler – Munich, October 17, 1925». Also to be auctioned is a diamond and ruby encrusted badge that was gifted to the Fuhrer in 1942. Although the dispute about the auction is understandable, many of the things that belonged to Hitler have been sold, from his modest watercolors to a countless number of documents and letters.
