At the end of the Second World War, a Northumberland woman’s RAF grandfather brought home a “souvenir” of his service in the conflict.
It was a signed copy of Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf which was given to the British corporal by a surrendered German officer who had buried it in a container in his garden.
The officer had served in Hitler’s bodyguard unit in 1933 and was presented with the signed copy, with inscribed provenance in ink dated 1934, by the German dictator.
The book is being sold by Wooler auctioneer Jim Railton today (August 21), with an estimate of £8,000-£12,000.
“This is a remarkable rarity which has been in Hitler’s hands and is part of history. You feel you can touch the past,” said Mr Railton.
A translation note of the inscription in the book reads:
“This personal signature of my beloved Fuhrer Adolf Hitler has been given to me on the 14th April 1934 at 8.30pm after his journey with the ship Deutschland from Kiel to Wilhelmshaven after a meeting of ministers.
“After departure from the aerodrome he presented this with his best wishes.”
The member of the RAF had come into contact with the German officer while engaged in the task of disarming an air base on the Isle of Sylt in northern Germany.
He was invited to the officer’s home, who then dug into the garden and produced what he called his valued possession and offered it to him.
Mein Kampf is a 1925 autobiographical and political manifesto by Adolf Hitler, and outlines many of his political beliefs, ideology, and his future plans for Germany and the world.
Hitler began Mein Kampf while imprisoned at Landsberg Prison following his failed coup in Munich in November 1923 and trial in February 1924 for high treason.
The book became a bestseller in Germany following Hitler’s rise to power in 1933.