‘Tools of the devil’: Auction of Nazi war relics including swastika flags, a Knights Cross and a miniature Adolf Hitler figurine is slammed by a Jewish group
- Nazi war relics were sold in an auction in Western Australia over the weekend
- Controversial items included Hitler figurine and Nazi flags bearing swastikas
- Jewish group slammed auction as ‘morally repugnant’ and insulting to victims
An auction of Nazi war relics has been slammed by a Jewish group as an insult to those who suffered under Adolf Hitler’s regime.
A Hitler figurine with a moving arm that performs the Nazi salute was among the items that sold under the hammer during the auction at Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia over the weekend.
Most of the items were World War II souvenirs collected by Australian soldiers at the time.
A Nazi flag (pictured) sold for $1500 at the auction of the weekend, other items included metal flask with an engraved swastika
The German motorcycle helmet was sold under the hammer for $300
The items included a large Nazi flag featuring a Swastika and a Knight’s Cross – one of the highest awards for German troops.
Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) chairman Dvir Abramovich has called the auction ‘morally repugnant’ and urged for action to stop the trade of these sort of items in Australia.
‘Mainstreaming these tools of the devil that rightly belong in a museum, is a profound insult to the memory of the victims, to the survivors, and to the brave Australian soldiers who died in World War II to defeat Hitler’s regime,’ he told the ABC.
‘We know that in the real world, anti-Semitic incitement, as represented by this evil paraphernalia, often results in violence and deadly attacks.
‘The tragedies at Pittsburgh, Christchurch and San Diego should prompt everyone to do some very serious soul-searching and to choose the high road.’
However, the likeliness of auction houses ceasing the sale of such items by choice looks unlikely as they can fetch millions of dollars.
A book titled Adolf Hitler with photographs of the German leader’s time in power sold for $375
Don Mahoney, who works for the auction company, said the market was largely driven by private collectors keen to ‘own a bit of history’.
He said it wasn’t just bikies and neo-Nazis buying the items, some bidders were doctors, solicitors and accountants.
One bidder, who has German heritage, said he had been collecting the controversial items for about 10 years and has glass cabinets filled with Nazi memorabilia.
He said he liked the history behind the items and saw them an investment pieces.
The two flags sold for $1,500 and $1,000 during the auction, while the Knights Cross was purchased for $1,250.
A metal flask with an engraved swastika was sold for $120, and the Hitler figurine sold for for $100.