Hitler Tablecloth

[paulj]

Over the years I've seen a couple of this style tablecloth identified as being from Hitler's Prinzregentenplatz apartment or the Berghof. They have turned up in various sizes and either in gold-yellow or beige-brown. I've also heard there are blue ones. The material is very fine linen with the swastika and oak leaf pattern machine-woven creating a mirror design on the reverse .

I've had a beige-brown rectangular one in my collection for decades and recently acquired another in gold-yellow. The brown-beige one has "Ges. Gesch" woven into the material close to the edge. The other, the one pictured here, has been hemmed and the marking is no longer visible. It also has a couple of repairs. This one is approximately 44" square.

If these are from either AH residence (or, reasonably to presume, from both) are there photos or other source material to substantiate the provenance?

Thanks in advance for any information provided.

[CPB]

Hi Paul

I've also seen these around, but I've never seen a period photo of one in use or veteran-attributed.

Definitely an interesting piece though.

Is there a story with this particular one?

Chris

[paulj]

Hi Paul

I've also seen these around, but I've never seen a period photo of one in use or veteran-attributed.

Definitely an interesting piece though.

Is there a story with this particular one?

Chris

Sadly, no story. It was a militaria show pick-up, tagged generically as "Nazi Tablecloth". The other one was also found at a militaria show but so long ago I don't recall where.

[CPB]

Interesting, thanks Paul.

[Br. James]

As Chris says, this is an interesting piece, Paul, but that said, without any period provenance coming along with this cloth, there is actually no reason to believe that it ever saw the inside of the Berghof, the Führerbau, the Reichschancellery, the Prinz Regentenstrasse residence or any other "Hitler site," especially without any period photos to establish it's period presence. Indeed, a tablecloth like this could have belonged to any of the Reichsleiters, Gauleiters, Kreisleiters or any of the TR government officials at any time. As we know, ALL of the Nazi officials received MANY personal gifts from an adoring public during their years in power, so what about this tablecloth says "Hitler's personal property" about it?

Br. James

[Erich B.]

I've seen a few of these over the years and IMO they may be private purchase items that were sold to supporters prior to the NS anti-Kitsch laws being enacted to protect national symbols.
Erich