Artifacts and antiques Bashny.Net

Let's learn about the top 10 most expensive artifacts from World War II, which today are worth a lot of money. Read more.

Fighter Hawker Hurricane





Cost: $ 2, 1 million - $ 2, 6 million

Major military equipment - an infrequent visitor at auctions: first, the majority of surviving tanks and aircraft in the possession of museums; secondly, deter potential buyers difficulties associated with transportation and storage of purchased lots. Whatever it was, Bonhams expects to sell more than $ 2 million British single-seat fighter Hawker Hurricane 1942 release. Equipped with 12 guns, aircraft belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force and, apparently, was patrolling the East Coast, where there was an active enemy submarines. Now Hawker Hurricane is fully operational, and as a bonus attached to it permission to fly

Military awards Edward Kenna



Cost: $ 990 000

In 2011, went under the hammer set of medals and awards Private Edward Kenna - Australian origin. Buyer to be discreet, but anyone who watched the bids, it was obvious that it tends to take over first place in the Victoria Cross - the most prestigious military award, the United Kingdom, which is awarded for outstanding heroism on the battlefield. Victoria Cross at auction extremely rare: it is usually stored as a family heirloom, or transferred to the museum. However, the descendants of Edward Kenna ordered inheritance otherwise. His Victoria Cross Kenna got over the fact that in May 1945 in Papua - New Guinea under heavy fire alone attacked the enemy bunker and destroyed the settlement of the Japanese gunners.

Penholder Hitler



Cost: $ 423,000

Whatever may be the person repulsive Hitler is willing to buy a lot of items belonging to him. Great interest among collectors caused a written instrument of Hitler, put up for sale by auction house Alexander Autographs. It consisted of a massive bronze pedestal decorated with the emblem of the Third Reich, two inkwells and paperweights. Artifact was taken by Lieutenant US Army Jack Makkonen from the residence of Hitler after the war. Many years later, the man saw a television documentary footage of the signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 on the division of Czechoslovakia. Recorded Makkonen saw a war trophy. Only then veteran realized that his hand was a very expensive item.

Letters of Anne Frank



Cost: $ 328,000 ($ 165,000 net of inflation)

Although the number of victims of the Nazi regime in the millions, a symbol of their suffering traditionally serves as a figure of Anne Frank: the fate of individual children embodied the tragedy of all humanity. Today it seems sacrilegious even the idea that the objects associated with the personality of girls may be involved in commodity-money relations. Nevertheless, in 1988, put up for sale two letters and cards sent by Frank sisters his American girlfriend during the war. Rose serious hype: in the auction, among others, participated actress Whoopi Goldberg - though the owner of the treasured letters she did not. Acquired their people wished to remain anonymous; valuable item he presented the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Cipher machine "Enigma»



Cost: $ 208,137 (£ 133,250)

The first samples of cipher machine "Enigma" went on sale in 1920, but is widely used in the military needs of this device have already begun during World War II. Most of the time issued "Enigma" was at the disposal of the Third Reich. Although the probability of crack the code is equal to more than 150 000 000 000 000 000 000 to one, the British interpreter did find an approach to this bastion of secrecy. After the fall of the Nazi regime soldiers defeated armies began mass export "Enigma" from Germany, and now buy rare cipher machine does not take much. The one that was sold at Christie's in 2011, added weight the fact of participation in the filming of "Enigma", which he wrote the screenplay for Tom Stoppard.

Set of awards Robert Dennis Gay



Cost: $ 71,289 (£ 45,000)

The name of the British Army Sergeant Robert Dennis Gay known only in narrow circles, although his feat, certainly deserves to go down in history. In September 1944, Gaye under Operation Market Garden was in Arnhem, where he soon began fierce fighting between Allied forces and the Nazis. During another attack road 156 Battalion of the 4th Parachute Regiment blocked the enemy tank. Do not hesitate a second, Gay rushed to intercept him to take over the fire and rescue comrades. He miraculously survived - though seriously wounded in the leg. Subsequently, Gaye was in a POW camp, where courting contused soldiers. In 2011, at Sotheby's earned them awards were bought by a private collector.

Helmet American paratroopers



Cost: $ 68,621 (€ 46,000)

The greatest demand at the auctions often use items related to specific historical personalities: for snuffbox Churchill or Hitler paperweight collectors are willing to pay much more than the shape of the unknown soldier. However, any rule there are exceptions: in 2009, went under the hammer helmet American paratroopers, whose identity has not been established. Labeling has learned that he belonged to the 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. This unit is known involving US troops in the Normandy operation. There, in Normandy, in the town of Sainte-Mère-Église in 1960 and was found a helmet. Bidding for it began with a modest level of € 3500, which eventually turned out to be exceeded by 13 times.

Archive Peter White



Cost: $ 59,790 (£ 30,000)

Great help in the study of World War II historians are diaries of eyewitnesses. They are valued by collectors: in June 2007 at Christie's auction for nearly $ 60,000 was sold Archive Peter White, includes several thick notebooks where young American infantryman meticulously described his misadventures from January 1938 to August 1944. White was not only a brave soldier, but also a talented artist: his observations, he was accompanied by illustrations. More than 730 sketches made with ink, pencil, and sometimes even colors are considered the most important part of the archive. Lieutenant sought to sketch literally everything that surrounds him, beginning with the device enemy aircraft and finishing details of a soldier's life in the trenches.

Letter from Dwight D. Eisenhower



Cost: $ 38,837, 50

Dwight Eisenhower was one of the key figures of the American command in World War II. First he takes strategic decisions at the headquarters of the army, and then went to the front, where as the supreme commander of the Allied forces led by North Africa, the Mediterranean, Normandy. The authority of the future president was huge. It is not surprising that in a letter sent to them June 13, 1945, General Hoyt Vandenberg Air Force, appointed a high price. Any confidential information it contains: Eisenhower in lush expressions pays tribute to the achievements of the US Army and is divided into joy at the fact that Europe is finally freed from the Nazi yoke, which is completely "contrary to democratic ideals».

Logbook Douglas Bader



Cost: $ 37,300 (£ 23,500)

If Russian children are raised on stories of the heroism Alexis Maresiev, the British synonym for "heroism" is the name of Douglas Bader. The pilot of the Royal Air Force in the early 30s had an accident and lost both legs. After passing a series of medical tests, Bader recovered in the service and participated in World War II on par with healthy pilots. He knocked over two dozen German aircraft, and has played an important role in the outcome of the Dunkirk evacuation. Even he was captured by the enemy, Bader has not lost courage, and after several years of imprisonment back home alive. Any item that was holding this outstanding military leader, is the British awe and highly prized by collectors.

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