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Stabbing in the Heart of Memory: Nazi Items Presented for Auction in Israel Israel today

2022-02-06T21:32:09.722Z


There is no limit to cynicism • Daggers of Nazi soldiers are offered for auction in Israel • Relatives of survivors: "We will not go over this on the agenda" • The owner of the auction house: "Claims of beauty of soul"


Holocaust survivors and activists working to preserve Holocaust remembrance are furious that Nazi items are expected to be sold at the Pentagon auction house next week.

These are about 20 items offered for sale, including daggers used by Nazi soldiers and an helmet of an SS officer, which is defined in the auction house as "extremely rare."

Another item is a Nazi emblem that was screwed, according to auction house officials, on senior cars only.

Also on sale are a five-meter-long flag that hung on official Nazi structures, and badges of forced laborers at Daimler-Benz.

The owner of the auction house claims that he is involved in preserving the Holocaust, and claims that this is "hypocrisy" on the part of the catalogers, and on the other hand there are survivors and members of various organizations, who are angry that items that may have been used to murder Jews are up for auction.

Yossi Polak, director of the "Continuing Generations, Holocaust Heritage and Heroism" forum, which runs many popular Facebook groups dealing with the Holocaust, says that in recent days he has received quite a few inquiries from Holocaust survivors, who are angry about the items being sold online.

As you may recall, a storm arose a few months ago, following an article in "Israel Today" about stamps used for tattoos in Auschwitz being offered for auction.

The Nazi Items Presented At The Auction, Photo: Pentagon Auction

"People have written to me and asked how we are willing to agree that such a thing should happen," says Polk, promising to go to war.

"Just as we waged a war against the sale of stamps - so we do here. As a child I saw the number and the scar on my father's hand, and he said he was stabbed in the hand by a Nazi prisoner after trying to eat grass from the ground. I see the knives offered for sale, and think to myself: "And what if it's that knife? We'll not go over it on the agenda."

Yad Vashem is furious

The Yad Vashem Museum also clarifies that this is not acceptable to them, and that they condemn the sale outright.

"The place of historical items from the Holocaust period is in our collection. Here they are preserved, researched and serve as historical evidence for researchers and the general public," says Danny Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem.

"Unfortunately, we are aware of the trade in Holocaust-era items, especially souvenirs and Nazi items. Such trade is problematic and we oppose it, both because of the moral flaw in trading such items, and because it encourages and creates a market for counterfeiting and trading in Nazi items, both in recent years. Auctions, and on online sales sites. "

Eyal Benita, owner of the Pentagon Auction House, dismissed the allegations outright.

He said, "These are beautiful souls and the righteous. I reach out to people who have come to turnip bread and just want to support themselves."

Benita adds that "all the heroes who say that these items should be donated to Yad Vashem - should buy them and donate them themselves. The seller in question is a person who bought the items so that neo-Nazis would not buy them, and now need the money. If the righteous want to come to the seller and bring "If he has the money, I will give up the seller's commission. I'm just a pipe, I just want to help this person."

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-02-06

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