Adolf Hitler Napkins - are they real?

[CPB]

My query is more with the monogram (wreath, serif, wing shape) than the material. It could be an early (or late?) variant. It's just not like the regular ones that normally show up from veterans. The stitch work looks pretty good though. If I had to guess I'd say it was okay but, like I say, it would always be a tough one to sell on later as it's not text book.

[Knight_ridergta]

Here is mine, paid $600 for mine. Think I got a good deal!

[ErichS]

Here is mine, paid $600 for mine. Think I got a good deal!

Agree, and a textbook example.

[Bob Hritz]

Has anyone ever figured out just how many place settings of formal and informal AH silverware and napkins were produced? There seems to be a never ending supply. I can understand a very high survival rate as these would have been very desireable souvenirs for Allied soldiers. I have had maybe 50 pieces, from my ads, back in the 1970s, but never kept any for my own collection because they were akways on the market. I wish I had kept one set of the formal pattern, but the prices are not that much higher than they were 40 years ago. I believe Roth and I sold them for $200.00 each, across the board.

Bob Hritz

[dave peifer]

i myself don't see anything wrong with the piece in the 1st post from john........dave

[Knight_ridergta]

Thanks!

Agree, and a textbook example.

[Br. James]

Like Bob Hritz, I have also wondered about the number of place-settings created in the AH Formal and Informal Patterns. The problem is not only that there were undoubtedly additional individual pieces reordered over the years -- since we know that guests at functions in AH's presence felt no compunction against pocketing a piece or two as souvenirs during a meal, which certainly must have created a need for reordering such pieces so that place-settings remained complete -- but we also have no way of really knowing what specific pieces actually constituted a "complete place-setting" in either pattern. (Every now and then we see a heretofore completely unknown piece pop up on Brent's or other dealer's website, which would surely throw off any concept of how many pieces constituted a "complete place-setting" in either pattern! Indeed, where did the "luncheon-sized pieces of both patterns fit into the scheme of a place-setting??)

The only listing I have ever seen of such pieces was the packing slip ("Lieferschein") prepared for Prof. Roderick Fick, one of Hitler's favorite architects, by the Munich jewelry firm of F.H. Wani dated 29.7.38, which listed 750 pieces of silverware ordered for the new Kehlsteinhaus. While this listing refers to groups of "36" pieces of various tableware designs, which may indicate the basic number of pieces in a place-setting, together with quite a few separate serving pieces, it does not tell us which pattern -- Formal or Informal -- was listed hereon. That would surely make a difference, since a place-setting in the Formal Pattern would undoubtedly include more pieces than one in the Informal Pattern. And this packing slip represented a silverware order for one location -- the Kehlsteinhaus -- so we have no idea how many settings were originally ordered for the Reichschancellery in Berlin, nor for the Berghof or for the Führerbau or for the Prinzregentenstrasse apartment or for Hitler's private train or yacht or for...??! And again, in which pattern(s)??

While we read of the existence of perhaps "3,000 pieces of the Formal Pattern and 1,000 pieces of the Informal Pattern," spread across Germany and perhaps even to the various AH field headquarters, this is only a guess, at best -- IMHO.

Br. James

[Brent Smith]

I agree with Br. James

I agree with Br. James. We may never really know for sure. But the count is a world wide count of approx pieces that are around "now" . How many survived and how many are still in veterans attics undiscovered only time will advise further. Only so many pieces available and as time passes less and less as a new veteran family discovery. Seems when vets had the chance they sent back small hoards if they could. Not just a piece. I know if I had the chance I would have sent back as much as I could. How many undiscovered unreleased hoards are still in vets families. I bet several yet to hit the market. . Brent

[mikeburch]

Adolph Hitler's Napkins

I have been told that many hotels, etc., had patriotic (AH) silverware, napkins, dishes, etc., for visits from Hitler or other high ranking visitors.
That is why there is so much of it out there.
mikeburch

[Richard]

I would also assume a complete place setting was not used at every meal. For instance, a fish knife would have no use if fish was not being served. Bill Shea bought a hoard from a vet not too long ago. He had a photo of the entire hoard spread out. I'll see if I can find the picture and post it.
Richard V

[ErichS]

I would also assume a complete place setting was not used at every meal. For instance, a fish knife would have no use if fish was not being served. Bill Shea bought a hoard from a vet not too long ago. He had a photo of the entire hoard spread out. I'll see if I can find the picture and post it.
Richard V

I was lucky to get a few pieces from the hoard as it sold out very quickly..

[Br. James]

Mikeburch posted an interesting note today, one which I had never heard before. It does seem a bit excessive to me to think that a hotel or a restaurant would go to the trouble and the considerable expense of having settings of AH-monogrammed tableware, napkins and other specialty items made up and on hand, just on the off-chance that Hitler and a number of entourage might drop by for a meal! While I've heard that major hotels keep a special room available, even when the house is sold out, just in case the President of the USA happens to need a room at the last minute, but such a room could also be used for another ranking paying customer, too, unlike AH silverware!

Br. James

[CPB]

The fact remains that all the documented AH napkins that have emerged have been from party buildings and never from hotels.

Anyone read Rochus Misch's book? In it, he mentions AH napkins insofar as he needed to borrow one to wrap (I think) some food in. He was given permission to take and keep one because they were in heady abundance. I don't doubt it. They would have made hundreds of them.

After all, would you have wanted to be the guy that under-ordered?

[ErichS]

Think that the formal/informal pattern silverware were exclusive to Hitlers different residents and definitely not hotels.

[Knight_ridergta]

Was that the one from the Eagle's Nest? If so I have a fork from that hoard on lay away that is near paid off

I was lucky to get a few pieces from the hoard as it sold out very quickly..