Garuche
The Soviet Union, revealed that it possessed the badge in a catalogue published in 1996. (after further examination many items proved to be fake)
The catalogue listed several items taken from the bunker where Soviet troops found the bodies of Hitler, Eva Braun and Joseph and Magda Goebbels — all of whom committed suicide — in 1945. They included documents, personal belongings, uniforms and the jawbones of Hitler and Eva Braun. But the prize trophies were Hitler’s and Goebbels’ party membership badges — among 10,000 issued to its first members in 1934. Hitler’s was marked “No 1” on the reverse side.
In 2005 at an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Soviet military intelligence the authenticity was questioned and days later supposedly stolen from the display. As the story goes,the guards thought the burglar that set off alarms was a cat and allowed him to escape.
Hitlers Golden Party Badge
lot #2028 was auctioned on Oct.15th, 2004 by Hermann Historica in Munich,Germany and sold at a price of 65,000 Euro.(about U.S.$100,000) The winning bidder was a German born American Collector.
The auction lot was described as follows:
His *personal badge in a special version of gold and enamel. The inscription on the medallion as well in gold contrary to the silver inscriptions on a normal party Badge. On the rev. side engraved the number "7" and the facsimile signature "Adolf Hitler" along with the stamped hallmark "750" On a threaded pin with a small, toothed, screw disk. Diameter: 31mm. In a case with a blue velvet lining (for display) There is also a *pictured certificate of August 9/10 1973 with a handwritten declaration of authenticity by Heinz Linge (Head of Adolf Hitler's personal servants which was designated by Hitler to burn his body after death) and Heinrich Hoffman Jr.(Reichs Press Photographer for the NSDAP and Hitlers personnal photographer. They swear on oath that this is the party insignia that 'was made for the Fuehrer sometime around 1937, and which he wore until 1945'
Condition: According to documentation by Hermann Historica the inner enameled porcelain part of the badge was not in the original position at the time of auction. This piece had come off and had unfortunately not been fixed into the correct position.
Herman Historica certifies that the repair was done in Munich Nov. of 2004 in accordance with the buyer of the piece to place the porcelain part back into the original position.
The correct position is that the point of the swastika which lies above the "A" of "D.A.P." in the inscription circle, is placed exactly above the knot of the oakleaf wreath.
This delicate repair according to documentation was done by a 94 year-old former employee of Messrs. Fuess, whose father was involved in designing both the party badge and also the honor badge of the 9th Nov. 1923. Father and son, then doing his apprenticeship at Fuess, made the original tools for both badges.
History: The badge was in Linge's possesion on May 1st-2nd, 1945 and again in the late 1950's until 1973,thereafter sold in secrecy to a private collector for an undisclosed amount. Linge never acknowledged the ownership of the badge to anyone but a close circle of friends. He was always concerned that the badge would be confiscated by the german authorities and that he would be subject to prosecution.
He confided that he personally removed the party badge from Magda Goebbels (coat, shirt?) after her suicide and before the burning of her body. (Hitler had given the badge to Magda several days prior) According to Linge there was nothing left of importance in the fuehrer's bunker to fall into the hands of the advancing russian army. The most personal properties of Hitler & Braun were either burned or taken by staff.(Several trunks of items had already been removed a few days prior to Hitler's suicide) Linge was one of the last to leave the bunker. Prior to his capture by the Russians,he gave the party badge along with some other things to a close civilian friend in Berlin. He re-acquired the badge in the late 50's
*Literatur: Klaus D. Patzwall, Das Goldene Parteiabzeichen,
(The Golden Party Badge) Norderstedt 2004 page 45 with color illustrations.
*Pictures of Linge & Hoffmann with the Party Badge accompany the declaration papers
The catalogue listed several items taken from the bunker where Soviet troops found the bodies of Hitler, Eva Braun and Joseph and Magda Goebbels — all of whom committed suicide — in 1945. They included documents, personal belongings, uniforms and the jawbones of Hitler and Eva Braun. But the prize trophies were Hitler’s and Goebbels’ party membership badges — among 10,000 issued to its first members in 1934. Hitler’s was marked “No 1” on the reverse side.
In 2005 at an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Soviet military intelligence the authenticity was questioned and days later supposedly stolen from the display. As the story goes,the guards thought the burglar that set off alarms was a cat and allowed him to escape.
Hitlers Golden Party Badge
lot #2028 was auctioned on Oct.15th, 2004 by Hermann Historica in Munich,Germany and sold at a price of 65,000 Euro.(about U.S.$100,000) The winning bidder was a German born American Collector.
The auction lot was described as follows:
His *personal badge in a special version of gold and enamel. The inscription on the medallion as well in gold contrary to the silver inscriptions on a normal party Badge. On the rev. side engraved the number "7" and the facsimile signature "Adolf Hitler" along with the stamped hallmark "750" On a threaded pin with a small, toothed, screw disk. Diameter: 31mm. In a case with a blue velvet lining (for display) There is also a *pictured certificate of August 9/10 1973 with a handwritten declaration of authenticity by Heinz Linge (Head of Adolf Hitler's personal servants which was designated by Hitler to burn his body after death) and Heinrich Hoffman Jr.(Reichs Press Photographer for the NSDAP and Hitlers personnal photographer. They swear on oath that this is the party insignia that 'was made for the Fuehrer sometime around 1937, and which he wore until 1945'
Condition: According to documentation by Hermann Historica the inner enameled porcelain part of the badge was not in the original position at the time of auction. This piece had come off and had unfortunately not been fixed into the correct position.
Herman Historica certifies that the repair was done in Munich Nov. of 2004 in accordance with the buyer of the piece to place the porcelain part back into the original position.
The correct position is that the point of the swastika which lies above the "A" of "D.A.P." in the inscription circle, is placed exactly above the knot of the oakleaf wreath.
This delicate repair according to documentation was done by a 94 year-old former employee of Messrs. Fuess, whose father was involved in designing both the party badge and also the honor badge of the 9th Nov. 1923. Father and son, then doing his apprenticeship at Fuess, made the original tools for both badges.
History: The badge was in Linge's possesion on May 1st-2nd, 1945 and again in the late 1950's until 1973,thereafter sold in secrecy to a private collector for an undisclosed amount. Linge never acknowledged the ownership of the badge to anyone but a close circle of friends. He was always concerned that the badge would be confiscated by the german authorities and that he would be subject to prosecution.
He confided that he personally removed the party badge from Magda Goebbels (coat, shirt?) after her suicide and before the burning of her body. (Hitler had given the badge to Magda several days prior) According to Linge there was nothing left of importance in the fuehrer's bunker to fall into the hands of the advancing russian army. The most personal properties of Hitler & Braun were either burned or taken by staff.(Several trunks of items had already been removed a few days prior to Hitler's suicide) Linge was one of the last to leave the bunker. Prior to his capture by the Russians,he gave the party badge along with some other things to a close civilian friend in Berlin. He re-acquired the badge in the late 50's
*Literatur: Klaus D. Patzwall, Das Goldene Parteiabzeichen,
(The Golden Party Badge) Norderstedt 2004 page 45 with color illustrations.
*Pictures of Linge & Hoffmann with the Party Badge accompany the declaration papers