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On April 20th, 1939, Adolf Hitler celebrated his 50th birthday.

At that time, he was the most influential man in Germany, the undisputed leader of the nation, who until that point had managed to earn the support and admiration of his people.

The occasion of his half century of life was commemorated with a grand celebration.

The newly completed Chancellory Building designed by the renowned architect Albert Shpear was the setting for a grand event in 1939 to commemorate Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday.

In the entrance hall, a long line of people formed, waiting their turn to personally deliver their gifts to the Furer, with some waiting up to 3 hours to do so.

One of the most notable gifts was a Vulta PPK 7.

65 65 mm caliber automatic pistol.

One of Hitler’s favorite models.

This was no ordinary weapon.

It was plated in 24 karat gold decorated with fine handmade engravings and had an ivory grip featuring gold inlays forming the monogram ah.

Although it was claimed that the pistol had been assembled by Carl Walter, this detail is quite doubtful.

Throughout his life, Hitler showed a great interest in weapons, although not so much in shooting them, but rather in the symbolic power they represented.

It is known that he always carried a 7.

65 mm Var PPK concealed in the pocket of his trousers and kept a loaded weapon near him, whether in his bedroom, office, or even the bathroom.

The gold Var made its first appearance in 1950 when it was photographed for a catalog of items to be auctioned.

However, after an investigation by the Kansas police, the weapon was withdrawn from the auction and disappeared again.

In 1966, the pistol resurfaced at an auction in Cleveland, where it was quickly acquired by Andrew Wright, who kept it in his possession for more than 20 years.

Finally, the weapon was sold to a private collector for a record sum, becoming one of the most expensive war pistols ever auctioned.

Today, it is estimated to be worth over $4 million.

The hidden treasures of the Third Reich, Hitler’s personal objects.

A desk globe taken as a souvenir by an American soldier from Adolf Hitler’s residence in 1945, was auctioned for $115,000, according to an auction house in San Francisco.

John Basamian, a 91-year-old veteran, explained that he took the globe from the Burghoff residence located in Oberousburg, Germany, while serving in the United States Army.

He decided to sell the item this year due to his advanced age.

Robert Pritikin, a 78-year-old former advertising executive and friend of Barcamian, purchased the Globe for $100,000 and had to pay an additional 15% fee to the auction house, raising the total price to $115,000.

According to Matthew Davis, Pritikin’s assistant, the purchase involved a historic item connected to one of the most notorious figures in history.

It’s something Hitler actually used and studied.

Davis emphasized.

Peter Olmmy Beck, a globe expert from the International Coronelli Society, commented that the globe itself did not have great historical value, but its connection to Hitler was what drove up its price.

Without that association, the price would have been much lower, noted.

April 1945.

As Soviet forces bombarded Berlin with unstoppable fury, crumbling the city under a rain of iron and fire and overwhelmed Hitler struggled to organize non-existent armies from an underground bunker 8 m below ground protected by a 4 m thick concrete roof.

Recently, a red belite telephone used by Hitler to issue his orders, a seaman’s model featuring a swastika eagle on the back, was auctioned for $229,000 to an anonymous buyer.

At the same time in Berlin, the exhibition Hitler and the Germans, the first of its kind since the end of the Nazi regime, attracted such a number of visitors that organizers were forced to extend it due to its success.

It is undeniable that objects from the Nazi era arouse remarkable interest even among those who are ideologically distant from that period.

The trade in Nazi memorabilia has become increasingly popular and accessible with prices ranging from simple uniform buttons available online for just €1 to a Mercedes owned by Hitler that was bought by a Russian millionaire for $6 million.

The most experienced collector of Nazi objects is a British man named Kevin Wheatcraftoft, who proudly claims to have slept in Hitler’s bed, although he clarifies that the mattress was replaced.

This successful construction entrepreneur began his collection with a steel helmet that his father, a World War II veteran, brought back as a souvenir from the conflict.

Today, Kevin Wheatraftoft’s collection occupies several warehouses where he stores large pieces such as tanks, more than 50 busts of Hitler, and even the door, tiles, and window grill from the cell that the future furer occupied at Lansburg prison after his failed coup in Munich in 1923.

It was during this imprisonment that Hitler took the opportunity to write mine camp.

Wheatcraft recalls, “I knew they were going to renovate the prison building where Hitler had been, and I didn’t hesitate.

I went to Munich, waited for the workers to go out for lunch at a nearby tavern, invited them to a round of beer.

I repeated the invitation for a few days, and in the end, I came back home with the door, the window grill, and a few floor tiles from Hitler’s cell.

One of the most outstanding Hitleran trophies in Wheatcraft’s collection is a rusty bottle rack he salvaged in 1989 from the ruins of the Burghoff, Hitler’s Alpine residence.

His action was fraught with risk as at that time in Germany any type of Nazi memorabilia was prohibited, which could have earned him a conviction.

Something similar happened with several Spaniards who got into trouble simply by raising their arm to hail a taxi.

In fact, in 1953, the Bavarian government dynamited the ruins of the Burgof to prevent them from becoming a shrine for neo-Nazis.

The trade in Nazi souvenirs has existed for a long time.

Just walking through any European flea market, one can find iron crosses or SS daggers sold for just a few.

Most of these items are replicas, which explains their low cost and abundance.

However, in recent years, the market for Nazi objects has experienced a boom with the appearance of items that seem to be authentic.

This phenomenon has a clear explanation.

Allied soldiers used to collect war trophies during their service.

Many of them returned home with backpacks full of these souvenirs.

Now, after more than half a century, these objects are beginning to surface as the grandchildren of veterans who feel less sentimental attachment to these memories put them up for auction.

either to get rid of the grandparents’ junk or to earn some extra money.

It is curious to observe the difference in attitude between the Russians and Americans as occupying forces in defeated Germany.

While the Americans, coming from a country with a high standard of living and access to consumer goods, were attracted to ceremonial trophies and luxury items that the Nazis had produced in large quantity.

The Russians, mostly illiterate peasants from impoverished villages, tended to loot simpler everyday items like watches, shoes, cameras, and kitchen utensils.

The famous image of Sergeant Melatonin Canaria planting the red flag at top the ruins of the Reichag, a building that symbolized for the Russians the heart of the Nazi regime, is well known.

In the original photograph which was staged, one could see his companion wearing a wristwatch on each wrist, revealing his role as a looter.

Upon realizing this, the photo was retouched so that only one watch appeared.

The historic flag seen in that image is now reverently displayed in a showcase at the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of Russia.

Additionally, the camera with which war photographer Yvani Kaldai took the photo, a Leica 3, was auctioned in 2014 in Hong Kong.

Hitler’s Alpine residence is becoming a notable source of Nazi memorabilia with objects of great interest to collectors.

Among the most curious souvenirs are a pair of Ava Brown silk panties, Hitler’s lover and wife, which were auctioned for €3,300.

These lilac colored panties with a small bow at the waist and AA’s embroidered initials were part of a lot of souvenirs acquired by an American soldier from the 101st Airborne Division which occupied the residents after the fall of the Nazi regime.

It is likely that many of these objects came from trades for food conducted by the impoverished local population between the abandonment of the SS garrison and the arrival of American forces.

Still on the subject of the intimate clothing of Third Reich figures, a notable item includes a pair of silk underpants that belonged to Herman Guring, the powerful minister of the Air Force and close associate of Hitler.

With an impressive waist measurement of 114 cm, the underpants suggests that Guring had lost some weight in the final months of the war.

This item, like others in the collection, was acquired by Dr.

John K.

Latimer, a famous doctor who took advantage of his role as physician to the Nazi leaders to gather trophies during the Nuremberg trials.

The auction titled Hitler and the Nazi leaders, a vision of evil, was organized in an attempt to appease Jewish organizations protesting the event.

Guring’s underpants reached the sum of €3,000 and were purchased by an anonymous buyer from Argentina, who also bid on other items, including a Hitler jacket that sold for €275,000.

Another interesting piece from this collection was a leather device designed to hide a small pistol in the trousers, apparently belonging to Hitler himself, Blondie, the Furer’s loyal dog.

Hitler was a great animal lover, especially of dogs, and he was known for his affectionate treatment of them.

During the Third Reich, he had several dogs, but his favorite was a German Shepherd named Blondie.

According to several of his closest collaborators, the Furer loved this dog more than Eva Brown herself.

Over the years, he is estimated to have had at least 10 different dogs, all of whom were considered an important part of his personal life.

To understand when Blondie and Hitler first met, we must go back to 1941.

That year, Martin Borman, a loyal collaborator of Hitler due to his skills in accounting and his role as director of the National Socialist German Workers Party, gave him a gift that would leave a lasting mark on the Nazi leader.

The gift was a female German Shepherd, who quickly won his affection.

Without hesitation, Hitler decided to name her Blondie, a name that roughly translates to Blondie.

From the moment Hitler first saw his new German Shepherd, he established a deep bond with her, something uncommon in his relationship with animals.

In general, the dictator had peculiar preferences when it came to animals.

He considered horses to be clumsy, disliked bulldogs and boxers, and avoided creatures such as turtles, chickens, or fow deer.

His aversion to cats was wellknown, and he generally preferred large dogs, which contrasted with the small dogs he had previously owned.

His true fascination with German shepherds began in 1921 when he received one as a gift.

According to various documents from the time, Hitler lived a relatively calm life in the following years of the war accompanied by his dog Blondie.

Despite the intense fighting on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarasa and the battles his troops waged in Africa against the British, the Fura always found time to relax at his Burghoff residence in the Bavarian Alps, enjoying tea and spending time with his close associates or playing with his dog.

His house, situated on a beautiful
cliff, was a place of pleasure for both him and Eva Brown, whom he had met in 1929.

During those days, Hitler often shared long breakfasts with Eva Brown, where delicacies such as bread, tea, cocoa, coffee, orange juice, biscuits, and butter were served, a luxury during the war due to its scarcity.

While it might not seem like much today, it was an exclusive feast for the top officials of the Nazi regime.

Meals were also special occasions where those who endured the leader constant criticisms could enjoy some of the best meats available in the region.

Hitler was known for his extreme meticulousness during meals.

He would become irritated by any minor mistake, such as a napkin placed incorrectly or a misplaced utensil.

His obsession with food preparation was equally notable, and he did not hesitate to cause problems for his guests if something did not meet his strict requirements.

For example, he insisted that soup be served extremely hot, to the point that on one occasion, the crown princess of Italy, Maria Jose, burned her tongue while tasting it.

Additionally, Hitler demanded that guests finish everything on their plates, and the servants were not allowed to remove the utensils until they were completely empty.

However, this perfectionist behavior and harsh attitude faded when he was with his two most beloved companions, Eva Brown and his dog, Blondie.

Those who knew the Nazi leader, claimed that he had a deep attachment to his dog, showing a level of affection and dedication that even surpassed his human relationships.

Hitler spent long periods playing or walking with Blondie on an obstacle course that he had personally created for her.

This closeness to his dog, however, did not seem to please Ava Brown, who, in an attempt to attract his attention, or perhaps out of jealousy, acquired two dogs of her own.

Despite the intensifying Allied offensive and the approach of Soviet forces, the relationship between Hitler and his loyal dog Blondie remained unchanged.

The only difference was that instead of spending time with her at Burgghorof, his residence in the Bavarian Alps, the Furer was now sheltering in the Chancellory bunker, seeking protection from the intense bombings.

This bunker, which became infamous during the Battle of Berlin, was Hitler’s final refuge.

Despite being confined to the bunker out of fear of Soviet attacks, Hitler took advantage of brief pauses in the fighting to take short walks with Blondie around the building.

For him, these moments represented calm amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, outside his hiding place, German troops were fiercely battling in the streets, attempting to halt the advance of Soviet tanks toward the heart of Berlin.

The end of Blondie.

On April 29th, 1945, the situation in Berlin had drastically changed, shifting from a sense of euphoria to total despair.

Soviet forces were at the gates of Hitler’s bunker, and the German troops were no longer enough to stop the advance of the T-34 tanks.

Soviet infantry advanced relentlessly through the city streets, using their numerical superiority and heavy weaponry such as Mosin Nagant rifles and PPSH41 submachine guns.

The city, devastated by bombings, was on the brink of collapse.

In contrast, inside the bunker, Hitler and his close circle faced a desperate situation.

The Furer had decided that his only escape was suicide to avoid falling into Soviet hands.

Aware of the atrocities committed by his troops on the Eastern front, he feared that capture would be even worse than death.

His initial plan was to end everything with a cyanide pill, but doubt crept in.

Hitler suspected that his doctors might have tampered with the capsules, fearing that instead of killing him, they would merely put him into a temporary coma, leaving him at the mercy of his enemies.

Distrusting those around him, Hitler ordered the bunker surgeon to test the poison on Blondie, his beloved dog, before risking taking it himself.

Despite giving his consent, suspicion remained.

As a result, the surgeon was replaced by Professor Hassa, who administered the poison to Blondie, causing her death.

Despite the deep affection Hitler had for his pet, the sacrifice was deemed necessary to ensure the poison’s effectiveness.

After Blondiey’s death, Hitler ordered one of his guards to kill the dog’s puppies.

With a precise shot, the guard put an end to them all.

A day later, Hitler and Eva Brown committed suicide.

The fate of their bodies remains uncertain, though the most widely accepted theory holds that they were incinerated in a bomb crater.

Some reports indicate that the ashes of Hitler, Eva Brown, Blondie, and the puppies were buried in a mass grave mixed by the SS to permanently obscure their remains.

Burgoff, the Furer’s refuge and the dark legacy of the Third Reich.

In May 1945, Allied forces arrived at the Chancellory bunker in Berlin where Adolf Hitler was believed to be hiding.

However, they found no trace of his presence, sparking a new search to capture him.

The next stop was Burgof, Hitler’s summer residence in Obsaltzburg, Bavaria.

This place, which was once the Furer’s personal retreat, remains a complex topic today.

Obasaltsburg is a small town located in southeastern Bavaria near the Austrian border in the Bavarian Alps.

This location gained notoriety as a regular retreat for several high-ranking Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler, who built his second residence there, the Burghoff.

In 1928, Hitler rented a house in the area, which he later purchased using the profits from his book, Mine Comf.

5 years later, Martin Borman, eager to gain Hitler’s favor, took advantage of his affection for the region and launched an ambitious project, constructing a study building at the summit of the Kalestein Mountain.

Borman, determined to fulfill his promise, set April 20th, 1939, Hitler’s birthday, as the deadline for completing the building.

What seemed like an almost impossible promise soon became a monumental challenge.

The lead architect, Rodrik Fick, faced several obstacles.

The first being the construction of a 6 km road that had to cut through an almost vertical rock wall in some areas extremely unstable.

Despite these challenges, the project was approved, and work began in the spring of 1937.

The idea of completing the building within the given time frame seemed unattainable.

But Borman’s pressure, his relentless nature, and the grueling 24-hour work shifts, sometimes carried out under artificial lighting, allowed the construction to be completed on time.

Numerous photographs and films show Hitler, his lover, Eva Brown, and other members of the regime enjoying their time at this residence, which offered spectacular views of the Alps.

On April 25th, 1944, just 5 days before his death, a British bombing raid by the 617 Squadron known as the Dam Busters destroyed the Burghof in an attempt to prevent Hitler from using the property as a refuge.

In reality, Hitler had not used the house since the summer of 1944.

In 1951, what remained of the property was demolished.

Today, the surviving ruins of the former house serve as a chilling reminder of the decisions made in that place.

decisions that led to the deaths of millions of people.

Obasaltsburg, now known for its stunning landscapes in the Bavarian Alps, remains marked by its connection to the dark past of the Third Reich.

The ruins of Burgof serve as a symbol of the horrors of that era, and it is crucial that they remain as a reminder so that history does not repeat itself.

The site was quickly overgrown with vegetation covering Hitler’s former residence.

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