A watch suspected to belong to Nazi leader Hitler was sold last week for $1.1 million, lower than appraisers’ estimate.
The auction of the Huber watch was reported to have been completed on July 26 at Alexander Historical Auctions in Chesapeake City, Maryland, USA. The auction house said the watch may have been given to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler on his birthday in 1933, then seized by a French soldier in 1945 from Hitler’s vacation home. in the Alps.
Alexander Historical Auctions notes that the authenticity of the origin of auction objects comes only from the evaluation of watch experts and historians.
The watch being auctioned is part of a catalog that includes a blue dress belonging to Hitler’s wife, Eva Braun, signed photographs and letters from Nazi officials and other items belonging to Hitler .
These auctions were criticized in an open letter signed by 34 Jewish leaders, accusing the auction house of “disgusting” transactions, taking advantage of “memories, suffering and scars”. “love” of others for profit.
In a phone interview, Alexander Historical Auctions President Bill Panagopulos said he appreciated the views of Jewish leaders, but added that the customer who bought the watch was actually a European Jew. .
The Maryland auction house has sold other Nazi-related artifacts in the past, such as a dagger belonging to Hitler Youth, the Nazi youth organization, for $120 or a Nazi flag with price 260 USD.