Description:

Good collection of sixteen items captured for the Berghof by U.S. Army soldier Dixon L. Pyles, includes: an ornate steel and brass mortice-style key, 5" long, stamped "354" on the bow, and bearing a brass tag stamped: "Bad D Neben Fst."; ten steel or brass hinges, in four complete pairs and two unpaired, ranging in size from 1 1/2" x 1" to 5 1/2" x 2 1/4", with the five largest examples marked "ONI" or "INO" within an oval; two German War Merit Crosses with Swords, each 1 3/4" square, one with a broken suspension loop; a Polizei enlisted man's aluminum shell belt buckle, in relic condition with some surface oxidation and one broken ear; a brass Wound Badge in Black; and a brass "Seigneur" cigarette lighter. The relics are accompanied by a photocopy of a notarized affidavit from Dixon L. Pyles, 2pp. 4to., Rankin County, Mississippi, Feb. 22, 2000, in part: ... On 17 March 1942 I was inducted into the United States Army and was a member of the assault forces on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. During my service in Europe, I was a member of the combat forces that participated in five separate battles: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe... At the end of the war I was stationed in Obersalzberg and lived in the house of Magda Schneider, a German movie star. My responsibilities included guarding the art treasures which had been stored in the Obersalzberg area... While I was stationed at Obersalzberg , which included Hitler's Eagle Nest and Hitler's "Haus Berghof", realizing the historical significance of the house and realizing the possibility of it being destroyed, I had the hinges from a bathroom in the house removed. I also retained a key from the house. There are a total of ten heavy metal hinges.... In addition, continuously in my possession, are two German medals inscribed with a swastika on the front and "1939" on the back, a pin to be worn on a uniform with a swastika, helmet and two crossed swords on the front, a belt buckle with a swastika on the front, and a plain cigarette lighter..." Sixteen pieces.

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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