|
|
|
|
|
|
Adolf Hitler
Page 16
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Meissen Plaque of Adolf Hitler (Item AH 16-1; ART 10-10) |
|||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Here is the greatest Hitler plaque we have ever seen. Struck by the famous firm of Meissen, it is in Böttgersteinzeug from the Staatlich Porcelain Manufacture Meissen. It is cased and seems to be an award to a German competitor in a sports match between Germany and Argentina at Berlin September 30 to October 1, 1941. The words inside the case are: “Fernwettkampf Deutschland-Argentinien. The plaque was sculpted in the brown stoneware by Erich Oehme in 1941. Evidenced by the two holes in the top back, the plaque was designed to hang on a wall. Erich Oehme was the Meissen specialist in this particular porcelain technique and it was he who brought back the early 18th century form of porcelain manufacture that was developed by Meissen, but basically dropped by the company in the mid 19th century in favor of the white, hard-paste porcelain that found such favor in the populace and in the European courts. Oehme thought that the detail of important sculptures such as this one could be better appreciated when detail was the prerequisite. His figures and plaques are some of the finest ever done. To create a face that is realistic in a painting in oil or a watercolor is certainly a great accomplishment, but to sculpt such a face is a task left to artistic genius. Oehme was clearly such an artist. For further information about this cultural master please see some of his other works listed on our site. See Item ART 10-9 and the other Meissen items on that same page. Also, don’t fail to see the great Oehme creation ‘Die Alarm’ at Item SS 7-4 and the Scottish Terrier, Item ART 8-3. This plaque is 6 inches in diameter and is quite heavy as Steinwerk always is. The likeness of the Führer is possibly the best we have ever seen. On the back is a large swastika outlined and in high relief. The case is in blue leatherette and measures 8 x 8 inches and is in very fine condition. This is just a great Object d’Kunst extraordinaire and priced very reasonably for such an important historically, valuable piece.
PRICE: $1,800.00 |
|
||||||||||||
|
Hand-painted Scene of the Führer’s Landhaus in Obersalzberg (Item AH 16-2) |
||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: This was Haus Wachenfeld in 1928. Hitler moved into this lovely home in the beautiful Obersalzberg mountain setting. He actually rented it for 100 Deutsche marks a month. Finally, on September 17, 1932, he bought the house and the price was finalized on June 26, 1933, for 40,000 gold marks. On occasion Hitler would mention, “Yes, I have a close link with this mountain. Much was done there; those were the best times of my life…my great plans were forged there.” Later, under intensive remodeling the house was renamed The Berghof, but Haus Wachenfeld always had a particular spot in his heart. This rendering of the Landhaus is done by hand on black velvet and is quite colorful and accurate as to detail. It measures 20 x 15 inches and is completely original from the time.
PRICE: $450.00 |
|
|||||||
|
1944 Wound Badge Stickpin (Item AH 16-3; WEHR 19-8; PINS 4-25) |
|||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a miniature 1944 Wound Badge in the form of a stickpin. It you read the section called “About Our Rings,” you will see a synopsis of how we bought a fabulous collection of jewelry, insignia, etc., in Stuttgart, Germany a few years ago. This stickpin in multiples was found in the huge grouping. The reason there were so many of these found is that our elderly jeweler made these up soon after the 1944 badge was authorized. BIG MISTAKE. He had thought that the stickpin would be highly thought of and could be proudly worn by people who would seek to honor their leader’s escape from death at the hands of the vile traitors of July 20, 1944. But, after making them and perhaps selling a few to clients, he was visited by the Geheimefeldpolizei, (German Military Secret Police) and cautioned to refrain from producing anymore of these pins for public consumption. At the time, he turned over about 100 of the pins to the officials and we would guess that actual recipients did end up owning one of these. The problem as it was explained to him was that this was almost a sacred item (the actual badge) and regardless of the patriot’s intent, this badge (or any semblance of it) could only be worn by the actual recipients. The actual badge was struck by the C.E. Junker firm in Berlin and only 47 badges were known to have been awarded. The miniature was intended to be sold to Junker, but this intervention by the Army Police curtailed any thoughts of marketing these miniatures at all. So we are told by this jeweler’s son that possibly 200 were made by his father. The dies were destroyed or turned over to the police, but the ones we managed to buy were all that were left. The detail is astounding and the letters on the front of the badge stand right out and could be read in Braille. They are so perfect the ‘800’ for silver content is clearly stamped on the back. We believe the Germans who bought 1/3 of the grouping have a couple struck in genuine gold, but we have only the silver version at this time.
PRICE: $179.00 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A Truthful CD Interview with Otto Remer: The Real Story of 20 July 1944 “WALKURIE” |
|||
DESCRIPTION: Well, we all have seen the long expected film, Valkyrie (in German “Walkurie”). This Hollywood extravaganza is as was expected, a flamboyant glorification of a bunch of bumbling traitors who failed in their nefarious plans to assassinate Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler, and thus hopefully make a separate peace with Germany’s enemies. Those of us that have sat through the talking head Bill O.Riley’s show have seen the nightly segment called Pinheads and Patriots that he spreads before us in his Neo-Con fashion. Well here in this “historic” docudrama we have a classic case of “Pinheads vs. Patriots” and Count Von Stauffenberg played by Tom Cruise was the classic “Pinhead” while the Patriot title goes to Col. Otto Remer. Due to the yellow rag press that exists in several countries including ours, the July 1944 conspirators are officially venerated while outstanding war time combat heroes and selfless patriots such as Col. & Late Brigadier General Otto Remer are dishonored. Otto Ernst Remer (born Aug 18, 1912) died Oct 4, 1997 at the age of 85. He served with distinction in the German army (1930-1945) during the Second World War. He served bravely as a front line officer in France, the Balkans and on the eastern front after promotion to Major and then Colonel in 1944. He was chosen to command the elite Grossdeutschland Guard Regiment in Berlin. It was in this post that the 31 year old officer played a historically pivotal role in putting down the attempt by a small circle of insurgent officers to kill Adolf Hitler and seize control of Germany’s government. It is interesting to note at this point, that if Germany (or the U.S) were ever to find their nations in another major war, it would be suicidal to cite as role models for its soldiers and officers the individuals such as Von Stauffenburg and the other conspirators and individuals who tried to assassinate the nation's leader and overthrow the government in a murderous Putsch. Every nation has a healthy survival instinct and naturally venerates, particularly in the time of war, individuals who make exemplary self sacrifice, and embrace patriotism and heroism -- men of the caliber of General Otto Ernst Remer. Fate had thrust Col. Remer into that fateful role, a challenge that he met and remained steadfast and loyal to his Wehrmacht oath. Count V. Stauffenberg also took that same oath but like the craven coward that he was, he not only broke it, but killed four fellow army officers and wounded scores of others in his failed homicidal mission. Had he been so dedicated to his ideals and murder was his agenda, why did he not simply walk into that command H.Q. and simply shoot the Fuhrer? At that point in time, army officers of his rank were trusted to wear their side arms in the buildings that Hitler was present in. Why?- - There looms only one answer --cowardice. On the other hand, Col. Remer forged forward and was directly responsible for the arrest of most of the conspirators on that fateful day. Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, “Here’s the rest of the story!” We offer a CD recording of an interview with Colonel Remer in 1987 called, ‘My Role in the Putting Down of the 1944 Attempt to Overthrow Hitler." This is a two part recording wherein Remer gives the full fascinating account of his actions on July 20, 1944. To us, it is much more interesting and truthful than “Valkyrie” with Tom Cruise. The movie reviews call Stauffenberg a “good German.” Well, that is very debatable. When it is put under the magnification of practical geopolitical warfare with this CD, we hope to illustrate the other side of the coin. We believe we have the “Good German” in Col. Remer. At the 1987 conference, Remer said he acted in good conscience and if he had it to do over he would do it all the same. I say if I had to write this review over again I would do it all the same! We now present this great talk by this brave man who now belongs to history. PRICE: The two CD set for $25.80 plus postage -- Don’t miss it ! |
|||
|
||||||||||
|
Book Die Strassen Adolf Hitlers, The Roads of Adolf Hitler (Item AH 16-4; NSD 11-4) |
||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: This is a beautiful little rare edition of the story of the German autobahn, one of the great achievements of the National Socialist Party and its leader, Adolf Hitler. Actually, this was the world’s first super highway. We have them to thank for this technical wonder of the earth. The foreword is by Dr. Fritz Todt, the general inspector for German autobahn construction and the father of advanced road construction. It’s about 65 pages long and measures 9 x 6 inches. It was produced in the Baujahr (building year) of 1933/1934 and released in May 1935. There are 60 full-color artistic renderings of the “great road” in construction and also pictures of completed sections. This is an excellent memento of possibly the most historically important project of the 20th century. This is a terrific book for the NSDAP collector or the serious collector of automobile-related subjects. It’s in fine condition throughout.
PRICE: SOLD |
|
|||||||||
Bust in Wood of Adolf Hitler (Item AH 16-5; ART 11-5) |
|||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: This is an awesome sculpture in wood. It is a 100-percent genuine Third Reich object d’art in life-size likeness. It may have been a Hitler Youth project. There were advanced woodworking schools within that organization and some of the work turned out was artistically phenomenal. This particular rendering is excellent. We have often noted that to capture the likeness of a personage in wood carving is considered much more difficult than to paint it on canvas. Whoever created this one certainly knew what he was doing. All the features that have come to be known of the Führer’s countenance are there. As always with carvings in oak, there has been one crack discernable at the left side behind the ear. This invariably happens at some point. Thank goodness it finally happened at a point where it hardly matters. It would have been terrible if it would have been in the face area. Please understand this will happen on each and every oak-carved piece that is this large. The bust from the bottom of the neck to the top of the head measures about 14 1/2 inches and from the back of the head to tip of the nose about 11 or 12 inches. The entire wooden sculpture is covered with some sort of very thick application of heavy-duty paint that has been applied back then (the 1930s) to approximate in looks a bronze sculpture. It is unfortunately not signed. The original base was probably in quartz or marble and is no longer with it, but the previous owner had a wooden plinth made and it sits on this quite well. The plinth measures 8 inches square and 5 inches deep and is very well constructed. This is much more rare than a bronze bust. In many years of research in German N.S. art we have never even heard of one. At two points: one at the neck in back and one at the back of the head the paint has lifted exposing a bit of the darkened oak underneath—easy to repair if need be. We don’t touch up original works of art. This we would consider one of the most important art pieces that we have encountered in many years. It’s a true museum specimen of rather high sculpture’s art.
PRICE: $6,000.00 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hitler Cigarette Box (Item AH 16-6) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: This is a cigarette box from the smoking set that was part of every group made for the various locations frequented by the Führer. There were various types of manufacture on these items, but all followed a basic pattern. Dr. Mark D. Griffith in his book, Collector’s Guide to “Liberated” Adolf Hitler Memorabilia, shows on page 59 in the first volume a cigarette box identical to the one we offer. The pieces that he further refers to are classified as the “smoking set;” he shows a cigar box and a tobacco box (humidor). Under silverware on page 5 of the aforementioned book, Griffith mentions something about the formal-pattern silverware ‘800’ silver with eagle and swastika flanked by ‘A.H.’ with a classic Greek key-patterned border. This will be found on official flatware as well as boxes and miscellaneous items such as scissors and napkin holders, etc. Hitler was a lover of Greek classic art and the “Greek key” design found hand engraved on all but the flatware was said to represent the River Maeander, the ancient Greek name for the Menderes River in Turkey. This body of water that twists and turns and makes geometric patterns as it flows gives rise to the English word ‘meander,’ and also is given the name “Greek key.” This pattern was first designed by Faru Gerdy Troost, wife of Professor Paul Ludwig Troost, the chief architect of the Reich and father of the German autobahn. The boxes were for the most part produced by the firm of Bruckmann in Heilbronn. This style of flatware and boxes was found only in buildings that Hitler used personally. Now the question often arises and should arise: If the Führer was so adamantly against smoking then why would there be cigarette boxes, cigar boxes, tobacco humidors, and other such smoking-oriented piece among the groupings sent to his various abodes and offices? When Bruckmann received an order for a set of silver household items he made every piece that would fill such an order leaving nothing lacking and this included the tobacconist articles. When the order would be delivered, the SS orderlies would immediately remove the smoking articles and either spirit them off or they would be put out of sight of the chancellor under lock and key regardless of whether they were delivered to the Braunhaus, the Führerbau, the Berghof, the teahouse, the guesthouse, the Bertesgaden Reichs Chancellery, or the Berlin Reichs Chancellery. There were sets sent to the Führer’s apartment at the Prinzregentenplatz as well. Griffith says there were approximately 3,000 thousand pieces manufactured by Bruckmann, presumably, and we believe this included the flatware. So it can be said that today these larger box pieces are truly rare. Recently, a cigarette box like this one brought over $40,000 in a German auction. Will this likely happen again? Who knows? The size of this box is 6 1/2 x 4 inches, and little more than 1 1/2 inches deep. It is lined inside with cedar. The Greek-key design is, of course, hand engraved. The crown, moon, and Bruckmann mark with the silver content mark ‘800’ is stamped on the bottom rear. The condition is generally good except for two small dents along the edges; one at the right edge and one at the left edge (pictured). There is a stain or two on the top surface, but since this is, after all, silver, it will certainly clean up with a bit of silver polish. We do not clean such prodigious historic items; we leave that to the buyer. This is the classic example of Führersilber and the consigner does not want to price it out of reason. He doesn’t seem to be impressed with the Munich sale. He just wants it go to a genuine collector; however, he knows it is a very valuable item and an extremely rare historical object so we feel it is a fantastic bargain at the price.
PRICE: $15,000.00 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Book Jugend um Hitler, Youth Around Hitler (Item AH 16-7; YOUTH 6-4) |
||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Here is an extremely rare Heinrich Hoffman soft-cover book that shows the German Aryan youth admired so much by the Führer, Adolf Hitler. The essence of the NSDAP was youth. Nothing was more important. To the Bewegungskameraden, youth was naturally the future and the future had to be formed there and then. Hitler was enamored by youth not as the yellow-rag journalists indicate, but with a true sense of love for the children that he believed would with early indoctrination in sport, religion, and most importantly, racial pride and patriotism would make them rise to be the Herrenvolk of the future. The book is the typical Hoffmann book, but is one of the scarcer ones. The condition of the cover is, in a word, terrible. But from page 1 on, the pages are fine and the photography is some of the most excellent from the man whose every work was par excellence. The beaming faces of the fair-haired little Teutons tell much of their feeling for he who led their beloved Germany. A famous controversial little girl to whom the Führer paid particular attention was a Fräulein named Bernile Nienau. There are five full-page photos of her with the Führer. She certainly was the little apple of his eye. These pictures are at the end of the book. Heinrich Hoffmann on page 193 of his book, Hitler Was My Friend, said, “If Hitler was in a good mood he would summon children out of the crowd at the Obersalzberg and entertain them to tea or cakes on the Berghof terraces. Sometimes inevitably among the little guests were some who were not of pure Aryan descent and among the many photographs which I took of these kindergarten receptions and which, when published in all innocence in my volume caused a great flutter. On one occasion a very lovely and eager little child attracted Hitler's attention, and he had a long talk with her and invited her mother to bring the little girl often to see him. Little Berneli, as the child was named, became Hitler's admitted sweetheart, and many were the snaps I took of them on the terrace together. Her father, we found, was an ex-officer, who had won the Iron Cross, Class I. Then one of the many over-zealous busybodies of the Party, who knew the family and had nothing better to do than to scurry to Bormann and tell him that the child was not of pure Aryan descent. Bormann immediately forbade the mother and child ever to appear in Hitler's presence again, but—and this was typical of the man—he did not tell Hitler what he had done. Later, when Hitler enquired what had become of his little friend, Bormann was merely evasive. A real row started, however, when Bormann saw the photo of Hitler and the little girl together in my book. In great excitement he demanded that the photograph should be forthwith removed, and when I told him that this was technically not possible, he demanded that the whole book should be scrapped. This was too much of a good thing! Without further ado, I went straight to Hitler, told him the whole story and asked him to decide the issue. Hitler always hated it when he was faced with anything which he found irksome or embarrassing, and this time his scorn was directed against those who had denounced the child. If they had held their stupid tongues, no harm would have been done; as it was, although he did not interfere with my book, he felt he had to be logical and refuse to see the child any more. There are some people,' he told me, 'who have a positive genius for spoiling all my little pleasures!' So the book is not only rare, but these pictures along with Hoffmann’s story give a further insight into the man who was Adolf Hitler. The full name of the little girl and information is copyright material owned by Mr. Donald Boyle, who has the original pictures in his collection.
PRICE: $225.00 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rings of the Pact of Steel (Item AH 16-8; NSD 11-9; I-FAS 3-2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Now, finally, because of some negotiations in Germany, we at Germania are able to offer some of the most beautiful rings of NS Germany. These rings are 100-percent original and are the most important of all the art of the finger ring in military or political history. They were designed and produced by one of the most talented jewelry artisans in the turbulent years of the 1930-1940s. See. About Our Rings. This man (the jeweler) was a firm patriot in the NS ideology as well as a master artisan in jewelry arts. He had contracts with the NS Government as well as commissions with many of the famous firms that produced jewelry themselves, or contracted out to dependable artists, such as this man. Before we go into the description of these fabulous rings we thought to give a capsule review of the background of the fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. Most of customers are very familiar with the life and “(Mein Kampf),” struggle and victory of Adolf Hitler, but the saga of Mussolini is usually unknown to the collectors of German WWII relics. Yet, we feel it is important to at least give a glimpse of the life of this amazing man, at least up to the time of the signing of the Pact of Steel that these rings commemorate. Benito Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883, in the village of Predappio. He was born into a socialist-oriented family. His father often encouraged Benito to (disobey authority) (other than his own). He became a flaming socialist in his younger years. He was never baptized as a child. The parents were agnostics. He had a turbulent childhood and was in constant trouble with the school officials and neighbors. He was expelled from school. He did, however, eventually receive good grades and qualified as an elementary schoolmaster in 1901. He immigrated to Switzerland in 1902, after getting involved with the socialist movement there, was deported, but later returned and found a job in Trento (ethnically Italian, but under the control of Austria-Hungary). There he edited a socialist newspaper. But in this period his political views started to radically change and the emergence of the utopian fascist state started to form in his thinking, and a section of revolutionary syndicalists broke with the socialists over the issue of Italy’s entry into the First World War. The ambitious Mussolini sided with them. After WWI broke out these syndicalists formed a group called Fasci d’azione rivoluzionaria internalista. Mussolini’s perceptions had done an about face under the fascist banner of authority and national ideology. He was able to bring the needed message that international communism was the greatest danger to the peace and tranquility of Europe. Rapidly abandoning his early socialist and republican leanings he finally put himself at the people’s service of antisocialist causes. The fascist militias supported by the wealthy classes and even government and state apparatuses saw him as the restorer of order. After a turbulent period in the life of Benito Mussolini as a rabble-rouser, editor of newspapers of the socialist international such as Il Popolo (The People), the swing over to fascism is well documented. We will not trace it entirely, here. The word fascio existed in Italian politics for some time and Mussolini, being then at the time of WWI and also being that he was the editor of the persuasive newspaper, Avanti, his influence was needed to bring Italy to the side of Britain and France. Called to military service, Mussolini was wounded in grenade practice in 1917 and returned to edit his paper. Fascism became an organized political movement following a meeting in Milan on March 29, 1919, and it was Benito who founded the Fasci di Combattimento and destiny was sealed. The fascisti formed armed squads of war veterans called squadristi to terrorize and combat anarchists, socialists, and communists and they did a jolly good job of that delightful pastime. Later, Mussolini was invited by Vittorio Emanuele III to form a new government. At the age of 39 he became the youngest premier in the history of Italy (October 31, 1922). Contrary to some historical opinion, the (March on Rome) was merely a victory parade. Power had already been granted. Mussolini assumed the premiership of a right-wing coalition cabinet initially including members of the pro-Catholic Church Partito Popolare (People’s Party). The opposition, however, operated under anarchists, communists, other undesirables, and dangerous fanatics. There was even an assassination attempt by a rodent-faced anarchist by the name of Michael Schirru. Luckily this scruffy malefactor was subdued and subsequently captured and righteously executed. Il Duce had a 21-year rule and he was responsible for fantastic agrarian reforms and great public construction projects. He made the trains run on time. He countered effectively economic setbacks maintaining steady and health employment levels. He combated an economic recession by introducing the Gold for the Fatherland initiative by encouraging the public to voluntarily donate gold jewelry such as necklaces and wedding rings to government officials in exchange for steel rings, armbands, etc. Bearing the words “Gold for the Fatherland,” the collected gold was then melted down and turned into gold bars which were then distributed to the national banks for distribution to the needy in the form of necessary food and clothing. Efforts such as these gradually earned him the support and true allegiance of the vast majority of the people of Italy. Furthermore, he rebuilt the wealth and morale of the people, and obviously improved the national living standard, and gave Italy a highly regarded diplomatic front in the courts of Europe. In 1939, a concordat with the Vatican was signed and the independence of Vatican City was recognized by the Italian state. In 1927, Mussolini was baptized by a Roman Catholic priest. Now he was recognized by the Church and most Catholics now supported him, wholly. He was Il Duce and the people of Italy saw him as the return of Julius Caesar with the glory of ancient Rome now reestablished. Unfortunately, he dreamed of a Mediterranean Mare Nostrum, ‘our sea’ in Latin. This led eventually to his downfall. The invasion of Ethiopia was accomplished effectively with superior weapons and manpower. This was, however, very unfortunate for many reasons, but especially because Il Duce, admired by much of the world as a man of peace, now was viewed as a bully personified. Horrible atrocities attended every victory in Africa. His active intervention in 1936-1939 on the side of Franco ended any possibility of reconciliation of diplomatic relations with France and Britain both of which favored the communist side of the affair. As a result, he had no choice but to accept the German annexation of Austria in 1938. This confirmed his axis with Germany sealed with the Pact of Steel in May 1939. Had Mussolini, in this author’s opinion, acted with complete accordance with the agenda of the National Socialist government, WWII would have had a far different ending and Europe would never have fallen under the Iron Curtain. Communism would have only been a bad memory of the 1920s and early 1930s. (It would have been no more.) But, on his own, he annexed Albania on October 28, 19???. He attacked Greece and after an initial success, the Italians were repelled by a relentless Greek counterattack which resulted in the loss of one fourth of Albania until Adolf Hitler was forced to assist him by attacking Greece, as well. I believe at this moment the Second World War was lost. Mussolini was a great man and truly was a leader reminiscent of the Caesars, but driving ambition was the ruination of this human dynamo and unfortunately it took him down and central Europe with him. The Italian WWII misadventures, especially the Greek fiasco, was almost positively the reason that Hitler’s Wehrmacht missed its chance to defeat Russia by being too late by crucial weeks caused by having its mighty army bogged down in combat with the Greeks while aiding the beaten Italians. The Germans would have avoided the Russian winter and in a few weeks would have, without any doubt, raised the Reichskriegsflagge over the Kremlin, itself. The Russian people would have been liberated, communism destroyed forever, and Europe would have been finally united. This is my historical opinion and is shared by many historians today. It was downhill for Benito Mussolini; a good man with just too many imperial ambitions. Pact of Steel On 22 May 1939, the Pact of Friendship and Alliance that had already existed between NS Germany and fascist Italy became the Pact of Steel. It was signed by the foreign ministers of each country--Count Galeazzo Ciano (who was Mussolini’s’ son-in-law, but, later, Mussolini had him executed when he favored a separate peace with the Allies and called for his resignation) for Italy, and Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany. It obliged the two nations to aid the other immediately, militarily or otherwise, in the event of war was declared and of course to collaborate in military and wartime production. The pact ensured that neither country was able to make peace without the agreement of the other. The event of the signing of the agreement was a great catastrophic event in both Italy and Germany. The subsequent events that transpired still divide historians from both Italy and Germany today. German historians say that had this pact never existed Germany would have either won the war, or at least been able to maintain a favorable balance in European affairs and England’s power seriously diminished, or the invasion and occupation of the island completely accomplished, and Soviet Russia very successfully crushed and communism wiped off the earth. As a historian this had long been my considered view. On the other side of the coin Italian revisionists blame Italy’s loss and Mussolini’s murder at the door of the pact, and they claim that it was the amalgamation of the Italian government with NS Germany and Hitler that brought the nation down. In any case, it was an idea that in its time was welcomed and applauded by the concerned people of the times. The Pact of Steel Rings This takes us now to the jewelry studio and workshop of the man who produced so much in fashionable and eminently patriotic jewelry for the famous firms of the Third Reich. See the recounting of this at About Our Rings. When the pact was signed our jeweler extraordinaire immediately set to work designing a set of commemorative rings that would honor the great event. He designed a pair of rings so profoundly beautiful that the artist considered them to be practically his crowning achievement surpassing practically all his other efforts. The theme of course for the set would be the German and Italian leaders, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. The artist’s son later told us that this was, for the most part, experimental and the project was completed with a few examples produced, but only a few were ever purchased by one of the major jewelry companies and that he thought that certain of the pact participants received them and he thought that Göring, Goebbels, and some of the other NS leaders received them, and also some of the Italian leaders such as Il Duce, himself, and Count Ciano and the Italian Ambassador, Bernardo Attolico. The rings were part of a huge purchase. Some problems are still in litigation between Germania International and the German dealers who were involved in the initial purchase. We are prevailing, but some of the items are only now being revealed and are currently surfacing for our presentation to you. The matter is well in hand, at least we believe so, and because of successful litigation many of the rarest of the jewelry will now be available. It is now possible to purchase the Mussolini ring in several versions and in a limited supply. The Hitler ring that matches it will be available eventually (we hope). The styling of the rings is fashioned in similar manner as the Victory Rings. See the Das Heers Victory Ring, Item WEHR 3-1. This man was the only jeweler in Europe, as far as we know, who employed the enamel side panels on a ring that look so artistically stunning. The pact rings are large and dramatic as was the pact. The top of the ring is the size of an elongated U.S 25-cent piece; practically an inch from top to bottom and 3/4 inch from side to side. The fascist eagle, or aquila, stands about 1/2 an inch high on both sides of the shank. The bust portrait is about 3/4 inch high. The Mussolini pact rings were found in at least three forms as constructed by this jeweler. The first type was an all-silver ring with enameled top and side bearing the silver bust portrait of Il Duce, Mussolini. The sides bear the fascist national eagle. The second type is the same except it has the 24-karat-gold-plated bust portrait. The third type is the same except that the entire metal surface is gold plated. The son of our jeweler-contact told us that the all-silver one was probably the intended production model, or possibly the one with silver shank and gold-plated bust portrait was the one. The all-gold-plated ones were in a planning stage and probably were for presentation to extremely important personages, mostly in the Italian hierarchy rather than for the Germans who still frowned on gold or gold-plated items. (The sacred Teutonic metal was silver.) The rings with the German Führer depicted would never have been accepted by the NS party officialdom. So it is obvious that they would have been for Italian distribution only (although Göring probably received one.) So far we do not have the Hitler part of the sets and we expect that we indeed will, but we do have a few of the Mussolini rings. We are they’ll be immediately popular. There is no question of that and at this time they are extremely limited. The prices are extremely reasonable for these, the most historically important and beautiful rings of the Reich. Each ring is stamped with the ‘835’ silver mark inside the shank. PRICE: No. 1: $575.00; all silver and enameled version; |
Page Sixteen |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
