Personal artifiacts from Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany have turned lava hot in the auction world, the latest proof being the sale of his Berlin bunker hotline for $243,000.
The sale by Maryland-based Alexander Historical Auctions was matched by another big sum for a porcelain figure linked to Hitler, a white German Shepherd made by slave laborers at Dachau and presented to the mass killer by SS leader Heinrich Himmler.
Hitler’s last phone sold for $243,000 at auction.
Dozens of other World War II and Nazi items went for big bucks during the Presidents Day weekend auction by Alexander.
“The Hitler telephone brought a substantial price, as we expected, and a portion of the proceeds have been earmarked for charity. It was purchased by an American collector whom we are convinced has earmarked it for preservation and future display,” said Alexander President Bill Panagopulos.
Porcelain dog given to Hitler sold for $24,000.
“Also notable was the sale of the porcelain German Shepherd, made by slave laborers at Dachau and likely presented by SS leader Heinrich Himmler to Hitler. It brought $24,300 — 10-times what that porcelain figure would otherwise be worth,” he added.
The phone was rare, even by Nazi standards. It was used as a mobile phone, brought with Hitler to his various offices and homes. It was in the bunker he died in.
It is a black Bakelite phone, later painted crimson and engraved with Hitler’s name, made by Siemens.
Before the auction, Panagopulos told Secrets that it was “the most destructive weapon of all time” because of how often Hitler likely used it to push his generals for action against the allies.
“It would be impossible to find a more impactful relic than the primary tool used by the most evil man in history to annihilate countless innocents, lay waste to hundreds of thousands of square miles of land, and in the end, destroy his own country and people,” Panagopulos said.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
