An auction house in Stroud has abruptly canceled the planned sale of Nazi memorabilia, which included medals, armbands, and even a handwritten letter from Adolf Hitler. The auction, titled ‘Medals and Militaria,’ was scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, at Harper Field Auctioneers and featured approximately 90 lots, many containing Nazi symbols.
Among the items listed were seven NSDAP (Nazi Party) pin badges adorned with the Swastika and Waffen SS insignia, Hitler Youth pins, two Nazi Party armbands, a framed Hitler Youth induction certificate, and a rare thank-you note personally signed by Hitler. These Nazi artifacts were to be auctioned alongside military memorabilia representing various countries such as Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, and France.
The proposed sale sparked significant backlash from the Stroud community, with over 100 residents signing an open letter condemning the auction. The letter expressed profound concern about selling items linked to one of history’s darkest chapters, emphasizing the recent local Holocaust remembrance honoring millions of victims, including Jews, Slavic peoples, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled persons, and religious minorities.
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Stroud campaigners described the sale as an affront to the memory of those who suffered under the Nazi regime and challenged the auction house’s policies regarding prohibited items. While Harper Field Auctioneers initially declined to remove the Nazi lots, stating they were neither equipped nor qualified to judge the appropriateness of items, mounting pressure led to the auction’s cancellation late Tuesday, February 10.
Local resident Adam Horovitz commented on the decision, highlighting the dangers of normalizing hateful symbols through profit-driven sales and warning against placing such items into the hands of those who might misuse them. The auction house has not provided further comment following the cancellation.