Hitler’s Nazi ice bucket goes on sale as auction slammed for ‘twisted’ move

The Daily Star’s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox

An auction house flogging Adolf Hitler's personal belongings has been blasted as a "spit on the graves" of his victims.

Nazi emblazoned items such as an ice box and gravy boat have been listed by JB Military Antiques with price tags as high as £5,000.

The antique store based in Morley, Western Australia, is set to take bids on the collection of seven "very rare" items on Sunday.

Up for grabs is a white metal cigar box, crystal wine decanter, ice bucket, gravy boat, hairbrush, handheld mirror and table brushes.

All of which feature the Nazi part insignia and the party leader's initials "AH".

Outraged by the sale, Australia's Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich has called for the auction house to "immediately withdraw" the items.

Dr Abramovich told 9news.com.au: "The perverse and twisted sale of these blood-stained items that belonged to a monster tramples on the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and is a spit on the graves of the valiant diggers who sacrificed their lives to defeat this evil tyrant.

"It is also a kick in the stomach of the survivors who have suffered enough.

• 

  Prince Harry could be banned from private Royal Family gathering after Philip's funeral

"If Hitler was alive today, he would be thanking JB Military Antiques and applauding their lurid trade, delighted that his legacy is being mainstreamed and promoted in Australia."

The owner of JB Military Antiques dismisses claims the antiques glorify Hitler's actions as they are simply historical artefacts from a "terrible" but important part of the 20th century.

Owner Jamey Blewitt said: "While this is a period of history which has caused and continues to cause pain and discomfort for a great number of people … these items are sold as historical artefacts in their nature and speak more about the educational legacy … as opposed to me or my auction house wanting to glorify or promote nazism or the ideals and beliefs of Adolf Hitler."

The items, which date back to the World War II period of the 1920s-1940s, already have several bids online.

Dr Abramovich implored the Western Australian government to criminalise the sale of Nazi memorabilia.

"The extermination and dehumanisation of millions should not have a tag price and be offered to the highest bidder," he said.

Mr Blewitt acknowledged the pain attached to such items but insisted they could not be wiped out of history, 9news.com.au reports.

"While I am very aware that members of the Jewish and other communities that were directly affected by the Nazi regime would not like to see such items for sale, there is actually a large number of worldwide collectors who not only collect such items, but feel the need to preserve these as artefacts from history."

• World War 2
• Adolf Hitler
• Money
• Military

Source: Read Full Article