Description:

A KEY CAPTURED AT THE "EAGLE'S NEST"

A fine relic obtained by one of the first Americans to reach the "Eagle's Nest" above Berchtesgaden and the Berghof, a 3 3/4" brass key identified by the G.I. at the time as being the key to Adolf Hitler's office in that remote building. The key is engraved with the number "118" and an aluminum tag with the same number attached to it with a steel ring. Joseph H. Johnson, 22 at the time and a member of the 290th Combat Engineer Battalion, was with a five man patrol that apparently was the first to reach the Eagle's Nest. The elevator (still operating today) was out of service, so Johnson climbed 630 ladder rungs to reach the structure. On entering, he found the building deserted and proceeded to remove souvenirs, among them this key. The key was given to our consignor when in 1974 he purchased most of the items Johnson had "liberated". Included as provenance is a copy of a 1946 newspaper article picturing Johnson and "Hitler's keys", and describing how Johnson came to acquire his souvenirs. Also included are copies of two 1974 letters from Johnson to our consignor mentioning other items Johnson had sold to the man, and a manuscript statement from our consignor further explaining events surrounding his acquisition. A second key accompanies the bronze key, this one apparently for a machinery cabinet. While it is impossble to prove that the bronze key here is indisputably the one used to access Hitler's office, a very strong case exists for it having originated from Hitler's mountaintop retreat.

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August 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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