Lot 855

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Description:

OTTO SKORZENY'S GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD FOR THE KIDNAPPING OF MIKLOS HORTHY, JR.
OTTO SKORZENY (1908 - 1975) Nazi officer and Hitler's chief and favorite commando, he made a daring mountain-top rescue of Mussolini, placed English-speaking soldiers in American uniforms to mislead American forces in the Bulge, and after the war headed the organization that helped hundreds of ex-SS officers flee Germany. An intriguing item, a German Cross in Gold which Skorzeny represents as having been given him by Hitler in recognition of Skorzeny's kidnapping of Mikos Horthy, Jr. In Oct., 1944 Hitler received word that Hungary's regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, was secretly negotiating his country's surrender to the advancing Red Army, and sent commando leader Otto Skorzeny to Hungary to take charge of the situation. Hitler feared that Hungary's surrender would cut off a million German troops still fighting the Soviet advance in the Balkan peninsula. In a daring operation, Skorzeny kidnapped Horthy's son, Miklós Horthy, Jr. and forced his father to abdicate as regent. A pro-German government was installed in Hungary and the country continued fighting alongside Germany until April 1945, when German troops were driven out of Hungary by the Red Army. The ornate medal bears a simple engraving on the verso: "OTTO SKORZENY 16-10-43". Of course, this date does not coincide with the Horthy mission, but it does approximate Skorzeny's September 12, 1944 rescue of Mussolini. We are unable to determine if the date is meant to reflect the date of the action of the date of the award. The medal, with fitted case, is accompanied by five T.L.S.'s from Skorzeny on his letterhead to noted American collector William McClure in Pontiac, Mi., each 1p. 4to., Madrid, Jan. 25 - July 7, 1973 discussing the medal and at times contradicting himself. In part: "...[Jan. 25] a new original German Cross in Gold is very very rare to find and it costs in Germany between DM 2.800 and DM 3.500...this is really too much money for you...[Feb. 12] I received the German cross, exactly the same, in Hitler's headquarters in double, i.e. two pieces. I kept one, and this is the one which is completely new, and the other one I have been wearing during the war...this German cross in gold was awarded to me for my Budapest action and with the date 16th October 1944. But I certainly will not mention, that I sold it to you...[Apr. 26] ...this medal is my second authentic exemplar...which I send you in exchange for other war documents I received from you...[May 17]...I am really astonished to hear from you that the inscription of the year on the medal is wrong...I received this medal with the inscription about two months after having received the first medal, and I put this medal away immediately, and it was kept for me by an old aunt in Austria till I fetched it, about 10 years ago...somebody in the Headquarters made a mistake...[July 7]...Concerning the experts for medals there are certainly some who understand a lot and other who understand much less. I am certain the qualities of German medals during World War II have changed...I caught my German Cross in gold only end of October 1944 and the second duplicate perhaps December 1944. I can only assure you that the medal I sent you is an original one...". The 65 year-old ex-commando leaves us with several questions: he first states that two medals were given to him by Hitler at the same time, then recalls that the second medal, this example, was sent to him two months after the initial award. He then mentions the award as having been given to him in October, 1944, with the copy sent to him in December, 1944. Our first impression is that the wily Skorzeny was trying one last "false flag" operation, foisting a bogus medal on an American collector. In re-reading the letters, we see Skorzeny remained adamant that the medal was authentic, and had accepted documents (albeit, some cash as well) in exchange for the medal. He is also confused as to the date the medal was awarded - his last letter mentions 1944, which would tie the medal, if authentic, to the Mussolini rescue! Finally, why would Skorzeny, already a multi-millionaire, sully his reputation for a paltry sum? In any event, a fascinating relic, worthy of a bit of research, and owing to the above, sold strictly as-is.

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January 21, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000