Relics of Third Reich go under the hammer

Relics of the German Third Reich were at the centre of a bidding battle in Limerick yesterday.

Collectors of Second World War memorabilia trooped to a war auction where 285 items, many originally carried by Nazi soldiers, went under the hammer.

The increasing fascination with Nazi and Second World War items prompted Limerick Auction Rooms in Ballysimon to plan a series of specialist auctions featuring items from the era.

Auctioneer Richard Ryan remarked: “There is a huge demand for Second World War stuff, and Nazi items in particular, which sold very quickly today. We usually include the war stuff in our general auctions, but the demand is such [that] we are holding a series of four Second World War auctions.”

Businessman Tom Creamer, from Knocklong, Co Limerick, has been collecting Nazi material for the past 10 years. He said: “SS items are always expensive, but they hold their value. I go to these kind of auctions in England and Scotland and there is a good catalogue here today.”

Yesterday, he paid €310 for a Nazi SS eight-year service medal and €250 for a German Second World War helmet.

Lorraine Guerin, from Raheen in the county had to do the bidding for her son, Stephen who, at 16, was the youngest person at the war auction.

Lorraine said: “Stephen likes history and wants to build up a collection of military items. Today he got a First World War German Iron Cross for €38 and a German Second World War Iron Cross for €58. He was at another auction recently and bought items from wars in Asia.”

Auctioneer Darren Parish said: “There is a huge demand for the German, Second World War, and Third Reich memorabilia and the reason is very simple: People have a great fascination with history.

“Collectors are not Nazi fans, but the German military items from that time were so well produced and the quality of the workmanship was second to none. One rare German Second World War dagger had a reserve of €4,000. A Hitler Youth uniform went for €400.”

Collector Dermot Walsh from Corbally, Co Limerick, has a wide range of memorabilia.

“I collect German army stuff, Second World War material. I don’t categorise them as Nazi,” he said.

“Today, I have brought along a rare collection of German army service medals, which I am selling. One of the medals is exceptional, in that it is a 40-year medal which belonged to a German soldier who fought in both world wars. Such is its rarity, I expect it will go for about €450.”