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    Significant Hilter Item

    As to make things a lot clearer due to deception from others than myself i am reviewing and rewording all posts to be 100% clear of my objectives on all facets of my presence as a collector wanting knowledge.. This is not for sale and only a quest to gain information. Thank you!! Justin

    Hi Guys,

    Here is something I have in MY collection and want you to look at closely, read the story, the research and the opinions of those I have so far presented this too and let me know your opinion.

    The story of this item lies below. I took the story from the Gentleman I obtained this from. I will also include below some other interesting discussion on the item for your reference.

    From the Grandchild of the French Soldier that liberated this piece from Berghof, Germany 1945

    With regards to the history, I don’t have a very glamorous history of the item. My Grandfather was a soldier in the French Army and during last couple months of the war my Grandfather arrived at Berghof with French forces. My Grandfather took this item as a war trophy from Hitler’s possessions along with other items which are now lost or thrown out and only this one particular item was kept. My grandfather didn’t keep any items whatsoever from the war except for this one single item from Hitler. He rarely spoke to anyone about his war experience and when asked about the item he just spoke briefly about it as it likely brought back memories he would rather forget. He seemed to be deeply scarred by the war which resulted in his alcoholism. Many of my relatives both civilian and French resistance were killed in France during the initial German invasion of France. My Grandfather and his remaining family immigrated to Australia after the war and I came into possession of the item when he passed away... It brings many memories of him just by writing this and thinking about his experiences... I hope you enjoy the item more than I did; selling this item closes the door on that chapter of my life... John

    This piece was made by the very famous German optical company “Carl Zeiss Jena” in 1941 and contains a Telescope, Magnifying glass and a Compass all contained within a finely crafted wooden box?

    When I 1st received the item I was intrigued to its origin and history BUT it has been hard in authenticating it 100% as it is most definitely a one of a kind piece. The only picture I have seen that could possibly authenticate it is the .png file I have attached to this email. I have contacted major dealers across the globe including the Carl Zeiss Historical department. As I would have always thought they denied it was an original piece but I refused to accept this because of the story of the piece and secondly quite some months later another Telescope popping up with the exact same inscription inscribed on it.... Only being that it was made in 1943. So have a look and read of this very interesting piece and tell me what your opinion is!!!

    Something interesting for reference that i found on another webiste NOT germania:

    GIs of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, the first Allied troops to arrive on the Obersalzburg (7th Infantry Regiment), haul down the swastika flag from in front of the smoldering Berghof. (Contrary to what you read in several books today (Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers is the best known example), the 101st Airborne Division were not the first Allied troops to reach Berchtesgaden or the Obersalzburg. However, it is possible that a vehicle or two from the Free French unit "RĂ©giment de Marche du Tchad" were actually the first Allied soldiers to reach Berchtesgaden, and perhaps the Obersalzburg.) (U.S. Army photo, National Archives RG 111-SC 205102)

    Firstly I contacted the Zeiss Historian Department....

    Reply from my questioning the Zeiss Company aboutMY initial reply!

    Dear Mr. Cook,

    I have never before seen this “S” at the end of any words. It contradicts the rules of the Fraktur Font (Fraktur being the German lettering Font this is derived from)

    EG. Alles fur Deutschland

    Which it didn’t have one here when I used it also???? Hmmm???

    I don’t think that the French soldiers were the 1st to arrive at the Obersalzburg.

    I also don’t think that Hitler would have had such an old fashioned telescope or that anyone would have given this to him as a present.

    In any case it can not be from Carl Zeiss.

    Best wishes

    Wolfgang Wimmer.

    I then proceeded to question the Zeiss Historian department a second time… After presenting further more detailed pictures!!! Seen Below































    Hello once again Dr Wolfgang,

    I was wondering if you had received the pictures OK?

    I also wanted to let you know my position regarding this box. I am an Australian born Australian. I don’t have any German relatives or friends but I have studied the German Language and the German Culture for many years now. Here in my home town of Adelaide (South Australia) we have a very rich German culture and hold the largest German drinking festival outside of the Oktoberfest in Munich. I have traveled to Germany and seen a lot of your beautiful country with my own eyes J

    Now I am in no way a neo Nazi or a supporter of any ideals that Hitler so strongly held but I am VERY interested in the history of the era from the 1st and the 2nd world war. I was able to obtain this directly from the descendant of the Soldier that took this from Berghof and as much as it being related to Nazi Germany it is also a superbly crafted piece. Unquestionably as fine as any German craftsman could produce and equally as fine as something the Zeiss Company would have produced across the long history of the Company. So for me it is about the history and about the preservation and clarification of that history nothing else. I have a small collection of WW2 artifacts and this also helps me with the interest in learning the German language.

    So I just wanted to let you know because I know that this era in German history is a touchy subject that I am only interested in it’s historical representation as I know that the Zeiss company would also as you have quite an extensive archival collection. Any information received is only for the verification for my records and will not be glorified or displayed with prejudice to the German nation or the Car Zeiss Jena Company. I am simply an Australian Very interested in that era from the perspective of the German nation and how it can help me as a person to understand more about that era the world lived through.

    A couple of perceptions I thought I’d like to tell you are
    1. The Writing on the Telescope and the HakenKreuz (Swastika) on the compass in gold are done in such a fine manner so as to look at it at a 90 deg angle it looks 3 dimensional, very fine craftsmanship.
    2. I understand that DRP = Deutsches Reich Patent
    3. At very close inspection under a light I can see the hand working of the wood by the craftsman with a plane to achieve the curved roof on the box.
    4. I am not sure about the telescope and its setting in regards to its focal point but I have cleaned all the lenses and I can’t seem to focus on anything. I’m not sure if it’s set to focus at a great distance and that is why I am having trouble getting it to focus?
    5. I have been told that the box would have been made of a hard wood and stained if given to a VIP which it very much is but there was a question mark about the joinery?
    6. The compass is in English for example… Nord = N, Sud = S, Ost = O (German) but Ost = E ?????? Why?
    Is this due to the war in 1941 when it says it was produced and perhaps limitations to sourcing materials due to the growing war effort? Taken from a captured compass?

    I have spoken to quite a few people now and all are of differing conclusions as really this is a very rare piece and no-one has ever seen anything like it before. Could it be a possibility that this was a one of piece made for Hitler himself and given as a gift from the company?

    I’m very interested to know your opinion and the opinion of the Company and really hope you can give me these opinions without fear of any prejudice as I fully understand the nature of this piece and its place in history.

    Anyhow I needed to tell you this so you know more about who I am and my interest in this matter.

    If you have any questions please feel more than welcome to email and discuss what ever you need to with me. I am very open minded and I’m looking at this from a totally historical view point. I am keenly awaiting your findings as for me this has so many unanswered questions that I need to have answered. I hope you understand. J

    Yours sincerely,

    Justin Cook.

    His second reply.. after viewing the more detailed pictures!!!

    Dear Mr Cook,

    Since you have studied the German Language, can I answer this in German? That would be much easier for me to do. For me it’s more articulate and unmistakably clearer.

    This is a fake. I assume that it has been made by someone in an English speaking country, which can do some German, but not very much.

    - The Telescope was already for that time an out dated and not typical of Zeiss same as the Magnifying Glass.

    - Zeiss has clearly no Binoculars or Magnifying Glass it produced from Copper.

    - The material used to make the instruments does not show to be very high quality.

    - DRP means – How you wrote “Deutsches Reichspatent” (German Empire Patent) what does that mean?

    - Zeiss has not produced any Compasses since 1910.

    - The saying “Alles Fur Deutschland” (Everything for Germany) is not typical for the period (1941)

    - The story of its finding is contrived.

    The use of the wrong “s” in “Alles” gives the last evidence, that what it is all about is False.

    I’m sorry, if I have made you disappointed with it.

    Yours sincerely,

    Dr. Wolfgang Wimmer.

    After this response I sent it to a close friend who studies German with me and is very interested in this part of history for her opinion.

    A few thoughts on the box as well,

    It is possible it is a very well done forgery. It is possible that someone has taken several pieces from the time period, added certain extras or put them together in such a way so as to make it seem authentic...that being said though the guy you bought it from does seem very genuine and I would err on the side of giving him the benefit of the doubt. Of course the other possibility is that it is a fake and his grandfather led him to believe otherwise.

    Just because Zeiss says the telescope doesn't match for that period doesn't mean it couldn't have been an older telescope that was given to Hitler as a gift and perhaps the box was made up especially by someone at the Zeiss Company as a sort of gift box. It could have been a telescope and compass from say 1910 that he happened to see on display at the Zeiss factory one day (or wherever) and they presented it to him in a nice personally made box. Just because the telescope etc doesn't appear to be of the period or Zeiss didn't manufacture them at the time does not prove or disprove that it once belonged to Adolf Hitler? I think this is really the crux of it, unless someone can come forward and say that this was definitely a post ww2 modern day forgery then nobody can really say with any certainly that this was not a piece that was once in the possession of Hitler. Just to give a ridiculous example, seeing as how Zeiss seems to indicate that the quality of the materials wasn't of the level that Zeiss used, how do they know that perhaps Hitler gave money to someone (officer, friend, confidante, Eva Braun...whoever) to purchase him a proper Zeiss piece and they went out and bought a cheap imitation, wrapped it up in a nice box and then passed it off to him as the real thing, perhaps pocketing the difference in cost themselves. There are so many variable to this and I think it is going to be very difficult for you to get a definitive answer either way.

    Keep me posted on any developments; this is getting very interesting

    (Just remember at this point the other telescope had not surfaced yet!)


    I then proceeded to question the Gentleman I obtained it from just to make sure I had the full story, here is his reply.

    Hello Justin, Unfortunately I am at a loss and don’t know how to respond to the Zeiss analysis below. I never investigated the item as you are now. But to say it is a fake is absurd to me. I find it hard to believe that something like this can be fake or faked in some fashion. It is very old... Why would someone fake such an item like this years and years ago??? If Zeiss said that they haven’t made compasses, etc, etc or that it is unusual, then maybe is was specifically made as a gift or something by someone somewhere... Who knows...? I just have no idea... Just because it doesn’t fit their specification does not mean it is a fake. How could it be in my opinion...? I am obviously no expert. I was told the item was obtained in the manner previously described and never questioned it. Why would I.... Unfortunately I am at a loss for additional information as the item never really interested me. Sorry...Hope this helps.

    After having this information I contacted a well know historical period dealer in the US and they offered to certify and Value the piece.

    After much discussion and deliberation they were unable to 100% verify it BUT did put the reputation on the line for it after reading all the information I provided and said that it is VERY likely that it is an authentic piece and then valued it at a substantial amount for insurance purposes.

    After much research in trying to authenticate this piece, reading, watching hours of video footage of the Berghof ECT and hours of internet surfing I finally became brain dead from the whole situation and put it too rest for the time being.



    Then out of the blue one day from the dealer that wrote my appraisal this arrived

    I received this from a guy and the markings on the telescope are similar to the markings on your case… (Interesting?)

    These are the attached pictures of the long telescope as seen below;







    This Gentleman from the US had obtained this telescope and had sent it to a well know American repairer of Carl Zeiss Optics. Funnily enough this person with many years of experience in the industry had said that it was in fact an original Zeiss piece. There’s a twist in the story for you!!!!

    His telescope was said to be most likely a diplomat’s telescope and it indeed was something he considered to be original.

    After presenting all the information for his reading his response was this,

    "After reading those responses, I'm confident that you have the real deal. Is it made of copper? In any case, sounds like you have Hitler’s telescope. I'm sure from the story that you've told and the info. I have on mine that the pieces are authentic. Yours is very unique and I'm sure priceless”


    From this I concluded that with the historian from http://www.germaniainternational.com/third.html

    Looking as closely as I can at the writing and swastika I can see that it exactly the same in design. E.g. the swastika is 3 dimensional in appearance and gold…. Definitely came from the same maker I believe. (Real or fake?)

    I emailed the pictures and asked the question of the Zeiss historian department. I will forward their reply but as you can imagine I doubt there will be much joy!!



    I emailed the Zeiss Historian department and they also denied this to be an original Zeiss piece… funny about that hey!!! So to further my opinion..

    No joy with Zeiss but never the less very intriguing. If nothing had ever come up it would have seemed perhaps some what of a mystery of the origin but now this has shown up I believe it holds credence that in fact Zeiss did manufacture these objects?

    It seems totally plausible to me as Zeiss manufactured all sorts of optics for the war effort, from range finders to gun sights on the fighter planes & sniper rifle scopes. Zeiss were up to their neck in the war effort and the more I look around the more I realize it. I wonder if I sent a picture of an actual Zeiss optical range finder, sniper scope if they would deny this as well. If you have seen the latest SONY digital cameras, well they come with none other than a Zeiss lens. I guess they would much leave the past the past and have no desire to dig up the skeletons in the closet so to speak.


    So the truth still lies out there but for those interested in Third Reich memorabilia this is a very interesting story indeed and hopefully one day the full truth and story of these items will be revealed.

    Now i offered this information to you as a collective group of apparently knowledgeable Collectors. It's not for a laughing stock on my behalf. If you don't have anything constructive to say, then do me and everyone a favor and don't say anything at all. If you know anything relevant to my quest please feel free to comment, CONSTRUCTIVELY!!!! So far you have laughed it off but the question still remains fake or not has anybody seen these marking on any other telescopes ect before?? apart from these pictures? Not Cockily "Oh i have seen so many of these that i don't care to look at them anymore" That's not my question!! I see that there is an inherent culture within this site for good reasons and that i have just realized BUT it doesn't stop the discussion just because someone thinks outright it not worth talking about. Thank you for once again reading and hopefully understanding my thirst for knowledge be it Real or Fake - that's irrelevant, the truth is the only relevance to me!! Just remember this is not for sale, so this is not a prelude to e-stand in any manner what so ever!!!
    Last edited by Trance_Eyes; 04-21-2008, 07:21 PM. Reason: Clarification of my intentions to gain knowledge!!

    #2
    Hello,
    Interesting story... I guess, and I couldn't say it was a good piece or not but in any case I don't think one could prove it was Hitler's and also I believe the "historian" mentioned, from Germaniainternational has a number of items of dubious originality on their site with contrived stories(particularly regarding rings) so I don't think I'd take his word on this item. And to me this item just doesn't have the look of quality that would of been presented to Hitler or a diplomat or whatever. But that's just my opinion. In totality the story sounds kind of hokey to me actually.
    Duzig(Bill)

    Comment


      #3
      Can you do any more in placing that particular French soldier (or his unit) squarely at the scene at around that time.?

      Comment


        #4
        My Friend..if i had a dollar for every 'presentation brass telescope' , compass, suicide pillbox, ashtray , u-boat fitting, etc.etc. etc..that i have come across in the last 5 years at auction...i would be a very rich man.

        If Zeiss says they did not make an item they did not make it..!!

        In fact, if they did make it, and it was a special presentation piece to Hitler, they would have that in their records, and there is a good chance it will have been seen before!..

        A little help here for you may be in order..on presentation pieces, of that magnitude, they did not put DRP, nor would any craftsman..it is similar to putting ges. Gesch on an item, a patent applied for..it makes no sense.

        I don't know how long you have been collecting, but the longer you are in this hobby, you will know what i mean when i say there are literally thousands of these fakes.From all over Europe..and they are mostly produced in Poland, Latvia, Estonia etc..they are without a doubt 1000% fake.

        I am sorry to say i just don't like to see collectors bamboozled by these stories..too many obvious red flags on this piece for you to even consider this as real..

        Think of collecting this way, using the 'WISH' method..an item either 'w'IS'h' or you 'WISH' it to be..there never is an inbetween, it either is good or it is not.Another word of caution, is to never use a website as suspect as Germaniainternational to confirm originality of an item.In fact, do the opposite, use it as a guide to confirm that what you have is a fake!

        Buy the object, and not the story!..

        Comment


          #5
          Further on the "historian" from Germania internatiomal. Have you read through his catalogue? It is filled with philo-nazi statements. Their comments on the evils of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" are something. I wouldnt trust anything coming from that site

          Comment


            #6
            Absolute junk and one of the more pathetic attempts. Junky box, poorly done markings (that indeed do not make sense and use the wrong 'S' at the end of Alles, which is also a ridiculous motto to put on a box in 1941). I'm also of the opinion that it was a low quality set for the American export market just after the turn of the century, and that a non German speaker added the fantasy details.
            Erich
            Festina lente!

            Comment


              #7
              Hmm... interesting!! Yes so many Q's and it is interesting that your opinions echo that of others BUT can you 100% say to me that the story doesn't add up?
              I understand that from a collectors point of view that it may not add up and be percieved as being actually a FAKE. I take that on no problems and have dealt with that Q myself. As i was fortunate enough to pay very little for this piece it was a gamble worth taking and even if it is a fake i'm sure i wouldn't have any trouble in recovering my $$$. As i have been searching hard on the information i think that the possability of placing the soldier at the scene would be interesting. BTW the exerpt about "Saving Private Ryan" was taken from a completely diffferent source saying that the French forces arrived at the Berghof before the Americans. I have already heard the above opinions and have an open view but it was remarkable that anothe piece turned up with identical markings.... I'm happy to bring this to criticism and here with sriuos collectors that can be achieved. My goal is to scrutinize the hell out of this thing and to find as much information as possible on it's existence...
              Let the discussion continue!!!! As i say in my catch phrase knowledge is everything in collecting this sort of stuff.

              As for germanina well..... Whatever!!! I'm sure that within the market of US dealers / International dealers there has been many episodes of disagreements and misconceptions, i really haven't bestowed anything uopn them except for their perspctive. If they value it at a price and it's destroyed insurance claim is there..... easy as that. As for obtaining further perspective please keep the discussion rolling!!! Thank you for your replies!!!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Doug Kenwright View Post
                My Friend..if i had a dollar for every 'presentation brass telescope' , compass, suicide pillbox, ashtray , u-boat fitting, etc.etc. etc..that i have come across in the last 5 years at auction...i would be a very rich man.

                If Zeiss says they did not make an item they did not make it..!!

                In fact, if they did make it, and it was a special presentation piece to Hitler, they would have that in their records, and there is a good chance it will have been seen before!..

                A little help here for you may be in order..on presentation pieces, of that magnitude, they did not put DRP, nor would any craftsman..it is similar to putting ges. Gesch on an item, a patent applied for..it makes no sense.

                I don't know how long you have been collecting, but the longer you are in this hobby, you will know what i mean when i say there are literally thousands of these fakes.From all over Europe..and they are mostly produced in Poland, Latvia, Estonia etc..they are without a doubt 1000% fake.

                I am sorry to say i just don't like to see collectors bamboozled by these stories..too many obvious red flags on this piece for you to even consider this as real..

                Think of collecting this way, using the 'WISH' method..an item either 'w'IS'h' or you 'WISH' it to be..there never is an inbetween, it either is good or it is not.Another word of caution, is to never use a website as suspect as Germaniainternational to confirm originality of an item.In fact, do the opposite, use it as a guide to confirm that what you have is a fake!

                Buy the object, and not the story!..
                Considering you are well versed in such items do you or anyone who reads this have any pictures in reference to forged items as you indicate? I would be very interested to see pictures for my reference and further knowledge of presentation box's with telescope ect.... that have been forged so i can actually see the difference myself? I have pictures of a Generals Baton i found while surfing and meeting fellow collectors which is truly wonderful in presentation and craftsmanship (Which i will post ) but i would truly love to see a comparative forgery. Anyone??

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Trance_Eyes View Post
                  Hi Guys,

                  A couple of perceptions I thought I’d like to tell you are
                  1. The Writing on the Telescope and the HakenKreuz (Swastika) on the compass in gold are done in such a fine manner so as to look at it at a 90 deg angle it looks 3 dimensional, very fine craftsmanship.
                  2. I understand that DRP = Deutsches Reich Patent
                  3. At very close inspection under a light I can see the hand working of the wood by the craftsman with a plane to achieve the curved roof on the box.
                  4. I am not sure about the telescope and its setting in regards to its focal point but I have cleaned all the lenses and I can’t seem to focus on anything. I’m not sure if it’s set to focus at a great distance and that is why I am having trouble getting it to focus?
                  5. I have been told that the box would have been made of a hard wood and stained if given to a VIP which it very much is but there was a question mark about the joinery?
                  6. The compass is in English for example… Nord = N, Sud = S, Ost = O (German) but Ost = E ?????? Why?
                  Is this due to the war in 1941 when it says it was produced and perhaps limitations to sourcing materials due to the growing war effort? Taken from a captured compass?
                  "Significant Hitler item" is this a bad joke or is this ment to be for real !!!

                  1. Company Marking, Writing and Swastika are just too overdone on this item.
                  "Very fine craftsmanship" - no way, look better and longer and see that it is rough.
                  2. DRP on such an item - no way.
                  3. Again a craftsman - just cheap work that is done here.
                  4. "Having trouble getting it to focus" - ofcourse because it is made outside the European market.
                  5. "stained if given to a VIP" - no stained if sold to a naĂ¯ve believer.
                  6. "Limitations" - should it read without the L ?
                  "Growing war effort, taken from a captured compass" - no just a mistake made in India.

                  Sorry but I have never seen such a bad item, with such a poor craftsmanship.

                  Please believe what Zeiss says......when they say that it is a fake - than it is a fake for sure.

                  Such telescopes are made for shiplovers too, same telescope - same box, but without such mad markings and engravings.
                  Yes they made more of such items, that is why "it was remarkable that another piece turned up with identical markings" so lets wait for the years 1933 - 1934 - 1935 - 1936 - 1937 - 1938 - 1939 - 1940 - 1942 - 1944 - 1945.................

                  More an item for the "Alo Alo" tv series...............

                  "Knowledge is the key to success in collecting the Third Reich" : Yes you are right about that !, but even after the negative replies from Zeiss and other WAF members here, you are still going strong for this telescope and box, than I wish you all the knowledge in the world when you continue collecting, even when it is for matchboxes, hotelsoaps, sugerbags etc.

                  yours friendly

                  Eric-Jan

                  ps. thanks for a good laugh

                  Comment


                    #10
                    trance eyes, i myself do not collect images of these items..they are not worth the effort..but if you must, just look around the internet..you will run into a few!..

                    I am sure all these guys mean well, and are not trying to cheat you out of a 'valueable' item!!!..

                    Try the more common, inexpensive stuff before you take the plunge on personality items..it will save you a lot of heartache in the end..

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Hello again,
                      I agree with all that's been said regarding this item & Eric I agree that this seems like a bad joke trying to be perpetrated & that the owner of this item no matter what is said to him will ultimately believe that it is original or possibly original which again I think is not to be so. Not being an expert in anything I think that even my untrained eye can see that this item doesn't have the quality anything near something that would be a presentation piece. And Eric I had to laugh and agree again that this piece looks like it would come from the tv series you mention Alo Alo, a very funny show. That is the show with the saying about the painting of the madonna with the big boobs correct?
                      Duzig(Bill)

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I think Rene used to refer to it as a picture of "The Fallen Madonna with the big boobies"

                        I sat at the next table to him at Joe Allen's in London some years ago. He was accompanied by an extremely young gentleman friend.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by tenoriodj View Post
                          Further on the "historian" from Germania internatiomal. Have you read through his catalogue? It is filled with philo-nazi statements. Their comments on the evils of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" are something. I wouldnt trust anything coming from that site
                          Whenever I see someone put as much effort into decrying the experts (or as he puts it, the "x-spurts"), I'm always more than a little bit suspicious.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            http://www.helpcollectors.com/articl...elescopes.html

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Summed Up By Fire61

                              Comment

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