Hitler's "Art" auction ... Montrea?

Hi Folks,

I just spotted this story in Yahoo news reports ...
I wonder who the owner is a,d i wonder all sorts of other things! Any comments?

karmen

By Robert Melnbardis Tue Jul 12, 4:39 PM ET

MONTREAL (Reuters) - A Montreal auctioneer has put four sketches by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler up for sale, sparking outrage and condemnation in Canada's Jewish community.
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Iegor de Saint Hippolyte said on Tuesday that the private auction, which also includes two Christmas messages from the Nazi leader, would take place on July 19 and last only for a few minutes.

He said the current owner of the six pieces wishes to remain anonymous, and he declined to say how much he expected the sale to bring.

Asked about the morality of selling articles by and from Hitler, he said: "I am simply doing my duty, which is to transmit history to other people and to preserve objects that are important for humanity."

Hitler, German chancellor from 1933 to 1945, unleashed World War II when his armies invaded Poland in 1939. His racial policies led to the Holocaust, the organized massacre of some 6 million European Jews, largely at concentration camps such as Auschwitz.

The Canadian Jewish Congress said the sale of the sketches and of the two messages from Hitler was offensive.

"This is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of Hitler's regime, and there are still ... 15,000 in Canada who will be legitimately outraged by this desecration of the memory of what they suffered and of those who died," Max Bernard, an honorary vice-president of the Congress, said in a statement.

The four architectural sketches on auction in Montreal were made in charcoal, colored pencil and ink. One includes corrections Hitler is believed to have made to the design for an opera house in Linz, Austria, near where he was born, Saint Hippolyte said.

The opera house was designed by Hitler's chief architect Albert Speer, who subsequently became Germany's wartime armaments minister. Speer was tried at Nuremberg after the war and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The two holiday greeting cards are dated 1935 and 1938, and bear Hitler's personal seal and signature.

Saint Hippolyte, who is affiliated with the Paris auctioneers Drouot, said he is aware of the backlash against the auction, but intends to press ahead.

He said he was considering whether to donate his auction fees to a humanitarian organization.

[Ponysoldier]

I seriously wonder if the present owner can even legally
own or sell them,I thought although I could be mistaken
that this was classified as stolen and should have been
in the hands of the allied authorities. Im pretty sure
that this had to have been stolen at some point in time.
Patrick

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by Ponysoldier
I seriously wonder if the present owner can even legally
own or sell them,I thought although I could be mistaken
that this was classified as stolen and should have been
in the hands of the allied authorities. Im pretty sure
that this had to have been stolen at some point in time.
Patrick

You pose an interesting question...
Stolen from whom and by whom../??
Hitler dosen't care ...Did he give them away before he died..??
Would war trophys brought back from WW2 for our war museums be considered stolen from the German government..??
The same with the stuff that is going to American museums from the Iraq wars..
Interesting questions..the spoils of war..

[chris vickery]

Can't remember who said it, but something like "to the Victor go the spoils of war..."
And... who cares anyway. It seems like the Canadian Jewish Congress, just like any other special interest group, must insist on biching about something. Give it a rest already.

Originally posted by chris vickery
Can't remember who said it, but something like "to the Victor go the spoils of war..."
And... who cares anyway. It seems like the Canadian Jewish Congress, just like any other special interest group, must insist on biching about something. Give it a rest already.

I really don't care a damn whether these things were stolen or not although it would be interesting to know the history (if these things are actually verifiably Hitler's work). Just label me nosey for wanting to know this info and what others think.

[Ponysoldier]

The special interest groups are a baine to any country.
Personally they should not be allowed to function,
they do more harm than good.
Now as far as the spoils of war yes it happens even
in this day and age. Iraq has had some oldest collections
of books,art etc etc. As I understand it most of
what was looted,was looted by the people of Iraq.
I know for a fact that anyone in the U.S.military found
looting would be punished severely.
As far as far as Hitlers art the only thing I think
that should be done is have it destroyed.There is
already more than enough people gobally that still
that follow his teachings and seek to continue to
follow that path.

Patrick

[chris vickery]

Karmen, in no way whatsoever was I critizising your post, merely pointing out my disapprroval of the minority once again being the in the spotlight of current issues.
In the case of the CJC, all it takes is one act of moronic vandals and suddenly it is a federal case of Anti-Semetics. Look at some of these things for what they are; acts committed by uneducated, socialy inept, no class skids who have nothing better to do than be sheep to gain some sort of acceptance from the group of losers they associate with.
We can look at this from another point of view, and that is of those who collect German militaria. As for myself, I do not collect Nazi items, one out of respect for our veterans, two for the fact that much of this stuff is fraudulent or fake anyhow, and three, I don't want to glorify the idiology of Nazism. I do, however, respect the rights of those who wish to collect and maintain such memorabilia for the sake of historical preservation.
Now, this being said, I'm sure that we, as military vehicle collectors, are not about to critizise the restored Kubelwagen, Krupp or Panzer, yet the CJC, if they had it their way, would outlaw OUR rights to own, maintain or display such things.
We cannot forget the past, whether it be good or bad. Hiding the truth or burying reality is not the right thing to do.
Those who forget history are bound to repeat it...
BTW, I'm not trying to disrespect thsoe of us who may be of the Jewish faith, but rather trying to incite some common sense in a mixed up world...

Originally posted by chris vickery
[B]Karmen, in no way whatsoever was I critizising your post, merely pointing out my disapprroval of the minority once again being the in the spotlight of current issues.

Understood completely and no offence taken Chris, cross my heart and hope to ... well, I won't die for you, but just believe me dude ... oopsie and sorry if you figured I was upset with you Everything tends to be pretty sensitive for everyone these days and I understood that you're comments were more "general" and not directed at anyone specifically. I think many of us have to try hard to see the trees for the forest right now

Regards Hitler's art and my comment that "I don't give a damn whether they're stolen or not" I really don't, as even if they were, that happened both ways during WW2. Liberated Art?

I'm interested in follwing this story and it's outcome at any rate.

I could NEVER live with a possession of Hitler's

Coffee and time,

Karmen

Originally posted by chris vickery
Can't remember who said it, but something like "to the Victor go the spoils of war..."
And... who cares anyway. It seems like the Canadian Jewish Congress, just like any other special interest group, must insist on biching about something. Give it a rest already.

If I owned them and sold them and they brought mega-bucks, I'd put it towards:

1) Canadian WW2 VETS who need help and or cash right now.

2) Towards a museum, or at least a full section in a museum, for and about the 156 Canadian Executed POWS or some such

3) Towards upkeep of Canadian Fallen Soldiers gravesites and such.

4) Give 'em back to Germany museum.

I agree, lots of people want to be SPECIAL and receive PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FIRST ... and Canadian 2nd. Sad huh?

[chris vickery]

Karmen, I know this question is not really related to the topic, but, how do you add a quote into a posted reply on the forum?

Originally posted by chris vickery
Karmen, I know this question is not really related to the topic, but, how do you add a quote into a posted reply on the forum?

If you want to add to something you've already posted,

Highlight the text you want to quote then:
1) click on the EDIT option for that post
2) click on "quote" (there's an option for that above this compose box) and a little "quote" popup window pops up
3) paste your text you want quoted into that popup box and click "OK" ... it should automatically insert.

PS: you can only EDIT your own posts, NOT other peoples.

That oughta do it