Friday, June 20, 2008

Mein Fuhrer

The 20-page booklet is expected to sell for £150

Schoolboy's letter to Hitler to be auctioned

A chilling essay, written by a 10-year-old schoolboy praising the Nazis, is to be auctioned in Britain.

The rare essay was written by German pupil Gunther Himpfel as a gift for Adolf Hitler on his 50th birthday in 1939.

The 20-page booklet entitled 'Der 50 Gerburtsag des Fuhrers' which translates as 'The Fiftieth Birthday of the Fuhrer', was discovered at a flea market in Berlin and is now set to fetch £150 at auction in Shropshire.

The pupil received top marks for the essay in which he pays tribute to "greatest leader Germany have ever had" and says he hopes Hitler will live for many years to come.

Experts say the booklet serves as a chilling reminder of how the Nazi propaganda machine even extended to vulnerable schoolchildren.

Richard Westwood-Brookes, a historical documents expert at Mullocks auctioneers who will sell the booklet at Ludlow Racecourse next Wednesday, said: "You never cease to be amazed at depths the Nazi propaganda machine plunged in the years leading up to the outbreak of World War II.

"Here you have a ten-year-old schoolboy who should be involving himself with childhood things, instead being used as a political pawn in the Nazis' evil game."

"It is a very rare item as it's not something the average German family would want to keep - they would usually give these type of things away or destroy it."And if you can't get more than £150 for it, you're not much of an expert. Or auction house.
Dr Christoph Mick, from the department of history at the University of Warwick, said: "The essay tells how much the German people love Hitler and outlines how Germans now live all together in one state.

"It describes how the masses celebrated Hitler and that he is the greatest leader Germany ever had.

"The article also praises Hitler and his 'great friend' Benito Mussolini and expresses the hope that Hitler and Mussolini may be able to preserve peace.

"And the author hopes that Hitler may live for many years to lead the German people."
David Duke was unavailable for comment.

Via The Telegraph

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