Description:

BERGHOF FRONT DOOR HANDLE
A significant relic from Adolf Hitler's retreat, the "Berghof": a solid brass door handle recovered at the scene by an American intelligence-gathering officer who had also landed on Omaha Beach on the morning of D-Day. The handle measures 10 1/2" long with a ribbed knob. Those entering the residence would push down upon this handle to activate the lock mechanism. This relic was kept by Col. Stratford E. McKenrick (1913-1992) who was a senior member of the headquarters staff of the 110th Field Artillery, 29th Infantry Division. McKenrick attached a label a paper tag to the handle in later years, now somewhat faded: "FRONT DOOR FROM EAGLE'S NEST BERCHTESGADEN LIBERATED O/A JUNE OR JULY 1945". Also present is McKenrick's CONAD pass, June, 1945, as well as copies taken from McKenrick's personal notebook indicating that he had arrived off Vierville (Omaha Beach) on June 6, 1945 and other details of his lengthy service which lasted the duration of the war. On June 6, 1944 McKenrick and elements of that division landed on one of the "Fox" landing zones on Omaha Beach to establish observation points and offload ammunition. In September, 1945 McKenrick was detached and ordered by the Continental Advanced Section (CONAD) in Nancy, France to proceed to Berchtesgaden to search the partially-destroyed Berghof for any remaining documents related to Hitler or the administration of the Third Reich. With letter of provenance from the officer's daughter.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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