Description:

PIECES OF THE ROPES USED TO HANG THE CONDEMNED FROM THE NUREMBERG MAJOR WAR CRIMES TRIALS
Grisly yet evocative collection of relics directly tied to the execution of most of the principal war crimes defendants of the Nuremberg Trials, namely small sections of each rope used by U.S. Army Master Sgt. John C. Woods to hang the condemned. One or more strands of 2-3" hemp rope is glued to a sheet beneath the name of each man hanged by Woods: Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Wilhelm Keitel, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, and Julius Streicher. There are also three strands of rope taken from the noose which had been placed about the neck of Hermann Goring, placed there for "ceremonial" and propaganda purposes. Beneath the hemp strands appears the typed provenance of the piece, describing the hangings, Woods' involvement, and the fact that Woods had taken "souvenirs". The page sigend and dated by controversial militaria dealer Charles E. Snyder, July 25, 1986, and is notarized. The book "Wehrmacht Diary: The Story of Siegfried Knappe" by Wolfgang Cooper (1999) states that Snyder had made a "deal" with Woods to purchase segments of the ropes (copy of text included), but it should be noted that Woods died in 1950. It is certain that Woods did take one section, and probably two sections from each rope, contrary to orders against any such practice. We also know that one small section of the Streicher rope was sold at auction two years ago. In light of the controversial aspects of this lot, it is sold strictly as-is.

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July 31, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, 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 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000