An Argentina-based buyer spent almost half a million pounds to purchase the uniform and some additional souvenirs. A leading Jewish group has voiced their upset by calling the Munich located auction as disgusting. The silken XXL underwear and nightshirt of Hermann Goering sold for £2,000 to an anonymous buyer.
Reports confirmed that this collector bought about 50 items from twisted bidding auction which included a brass container owned by Goering. He used it to house the cyanide capsule he ultimately ended his life with. Not surprisingly, the Central Council of Jews in Germany has called this auction “scandalous and disgusting”. They wanted the event to be canceled altogether last week.
Additional items included a bit of rope that had been used to hang Julius Streicher (a war criminal) at Nuremberg once the war ended. There were dresses worn by Eva Braun, Hitler’s wife. The sale also had leather boots worn by Goering and Hitler’s dog tax assessment form. All of these items had previously belonged to American John K. Lattimer, an avid collector of Nazi memorabilia right up until he passed away nine years ago.
Media reports in Germany reported that he owned a 30 room mansion located in New Jersey. It was “bursting at the seams” with various artifacts associated with the evil Nazi regime. The Hermann Historica posted on their website that interested parties must “agree to comply with the legal requirements with application for your personal password” just to view items on the internet. The Hermann Historica is a prestigious, internationally renowned auction house for historic objects of all periods and countries. We are aware of the responsibility in particular for objects of German contemporary history and have always been committed to great care and prudence in dealing with them.”
Wolfgang Hermann is the co-owner of the auction house. He defended the collection by pointing out that it allows museums and collectors to ascertain extremely interesting pieces that are directly linked to Nazism and World War II.