Description:

ADOLF HITLER''S GLOBE, CAPTURED AT HIS BAVARIAN HOME
A most unique and personal Adolf Hitler relic, the dictator''s personal terrestrial globe, taken as a souvenir from his residence at Berchtesgaden by an American soldier at the end of the war. The globe is mounted on a wood base with a metal half-meridian attached at the north and south poles, and stands 18" high in all, with a diameter at the equator of 12 3/4". The 1:30,000,000-scale globe is marked entirely in German, and its cartouche, located just west of Australia, denotes that it was produced by "Columbus Erdglobus" ("Earth Globe"), based on an "economic and political map" created by R. Neuse and C. Luther, with the date Oct. 1, 1941. Notably, the borders of Germany include the portion of Poland allotted to them under the German-Soviet Frontier Treaty of 1939, as well as Austria and the Czech Sudetenland. It also depicts major shipping lanes and raw material deposits. A hole in the wood base may have once held a metal medallion, possibly bearing a swastika or other NSDAP symbol The globe shows several dents, scuffs and tears overall, with some panels peeling and a split around the entire circumference of the equator, where it was opened by Army inspectors to check for contraband. The globe was taken from the Berghof, Hitler''s home at Berchtesgaden, on May 10, 1945 by Chief Warrant Officer John Barsamian, then on the staff of the headquarters of the XV Infantry Corps of the Seventh Army. Present with the globe is a letter written by Barsamian to his family, dated that same day, which reads, in part: "...I''m going to tell you something now that I bet will really surprise you. Today I went and visited Adolph Hitler''s Home at Berchtesgaden in the Alps... The place had been bombed, however, parts were still standing. It was really some thrill to walk all around Berchtesgaden and look out over the majestic Alps and think that just a short while ago Adolph Hitler stood where I am standing and looked over the countryside [all sic]. What a beautiful view from his front window. I took many pictures, all over the place and if they all come out the way I hope they will, they certainly will be something... Here''s one of the best parts though. I was able to pick up from Hitler''s House a wonderful souvenir. It is a large global map of the world. It is like a big round ball. It is similar to the one that the Boghosians have in their home, however, this is written all in German. Inasmuch as I took it from Hitler''s House I wouldn''t be surprised the thing has been handled by Hitler and Mussolini. I really prize this souvenir. By golly you can put it in the store and tell the customers that this global map came from Hitler''s Den in Berchtesgaden..."He goes on to describe additional sites he has visited in Germany and Austria, as well as more souvenirs he intends to send home. This is accompanied by a signed and notarized letter from Barsamian, dated Jan. 11, 1980, further attesting to his acquisition of the globe, in part: "...This is to certify that on May 10, 1945... visited, in the company of Warrant Officer Philip Zolkower, Jr., Adolph Hitler''s Eagle nest retreat (Hitler''s home near the Hotel Platerhof), located Obersalzburg near Berchtesgaden, Germany, shortly after its capture by soldiers of the XV Infantry Corps. At that time I, John Barsamian, personally visited the interior of Hitler''s home at Berchtesgaden and obtained a global map of the world, placed on a table located inside said home. This global map, printed in German, measures approximately 41" in circumference and is about 18" in height. This globe is in my possession... [all sic]" Providing further provenance are a Certificate of Retention and Customs Declaration, dated Nov. 30, 1945 and signed by Barsamian and his commanding officer, giving Barsamian authorization to retain three captured enemy items, including a "Global Map", as well as an inspection certificate, dated Oct. 22, 1945 and signed by 36th Infantry Division Inspector General Lt. Col. Leland F. Adair, further listing enemy equipment in Barsamian''s possession, including: "1 Global Map, German, Hitler''s Eagle Nest, Berchtesgaden". Rounding out the collection are several newspaper articles describing Barsamian and his acquisition of the globe, photos of him and his fellow warrant officer at the Berghof, a local California TV news story about the globe, featuring an interview with Barsamian, with a full transcript, and the lid of the original wooden shipping crate used by Barsamian to send the globe home to his parents in Oakland, California. The globe was consigned to auction and purchased by our consignor in November of 2007. This historic object perfectly personifies Hitler''s catastrophic thirst for world conquest.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
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$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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