Berlin Police Seize "Fake" Hitler Paintings That Were Being Auctioned

Photo: Kloss Auktionshaus

Heinz-Joachim Maeder, a spokesperson for the Kloss auction house in Berlin, told Reuters, “If you walk down the Seine and see 100 artists, 80 will be better than this. The value of these objects and the media interest is because of the name at the bottom.”

Before World War I, Hitler tried to make a living as a painter in Munich, producing dozens of postcards and paintings. His broader dream of becoming an artist was thwarted, however, when he twice failed the entrance exam for the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Although Hitler later ordered his artworks to be destroyed, several hundred still exist, many of which are held by the US army. Others live in the private collections of individuals and museums.

Photo: Kloss Auktionshaus

In 2014, a watercolor of a registry office in Munich sold for $148,000, and in 2009, a collection of 13 paintings was sold for $147,000.

While many art collectors may steer clear of these paintings, both for their lack of quality and their tragic associations, strong demand is expected for these works. Bidders in the UK, Scandinavia, the US, and Russia are reported to be highly interested.

H/T: BBC