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March 23 2019 - Droog Magazine periodical for investigative journalism

The Hitler Forgery Industry

Anni Winter

The strange business of selling fakes, forgeries and other concoctions attributed to Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) and other Nazis.

to Hitler (main page) | to Certificates of Authenticity
to The Anni Winter Collection or: the miracle of the suitcase

Anni Winter

An unknown number of 'Certificates of Authenticity' issued by Anny Winter to alleged Hitler material exists. All of these are supposedly issued in 1967-1969. Also, at least 56 alleged Hitler items from the collection Anni Winter were auctioned in 1971. Which is rather miraculous, as in 1950 all authentic Hitler items she possessed were confiscated from her. All these items, and the suitcase which contained them, were then photographed:

In 1954 only ten of the items from the suitcase were handed back to her. As far as is known, none of these items were to be found on the auction in 1971.

Winter - or a person abusing her name - issued CoA's to the following 'authentic' Hitler items

Lot # 7272 and 7273, Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.

Cupboard with front and side panels of glass, lined with swastika cloth, with VoA's from Anni Winter. Interesting is that these are written for Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky, who was in the 1970's Konrad Kujau's American agent. This cupboard and a similar chair (see photo) were auctioned by the Munich auction house Hermann Historia on auction 59r, 2010, lot # 7272 and 7273.

Neither the chair nor the cupboard would have fitted in Winter's confiscated suitcase in 1950.

The cupboard was also accompanied by letter 'from Möbelfabrik M. Ballin', dated October 12, 1929, to prove the authenticity of this piece of furniture.

Lot # 7274, Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.
Leather letter map. This item was not amongst the items mentioned and/or photographed in 1950.

Lot # 7275, Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.
Suitcase with barber items, attributed to Hitler. This item was not amongst the items mentioned and/or photographed in 1950.

Lot # 7276, Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.
Shaving gear, attributed to Hitler. This item was not amongst the items mentioned and/or photographed in 1950.

Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.
Iron Cross, attributed to Hitler, with CoA from Anni Winter. This item was not amongst the items mentioned and/or photographed in 1950.

Another Iron Cross and Winter CoA!

This time auctioned by Hermann Historica, 11-05-2015, lot 6261. CoA issued on October 4, 1969.

Auction 67r, Hermann Historica, 2013.
Monocle, attributed to Hitler, with CoA from Anni Winter. This item was not amongst the items mentioned and/or photographed in 1950.

Auction 59r, Hermann Historica, 2010.
According to some medal experts this medal is a fake.

CoA on Nazi medal allegedly worn by Hitler.
Lot 6267 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015.

CoA on Nazi medal allegedly worn by Hitler.
Lot 6265 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015.

'Verwundetenabzeichen' allegedly worn by Hitler.

Lot 6262 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015, with CoA from 'Anny Brunner-Winter'.

CoA on Nazi insigna allegedly worn by Hitler.
Lot 6266 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015.

CoA on ribbon of a Nazi medal allegedly worn by Hitler.
Lot 6264 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015.
The signature is different then on the other CoA's: now it is 'Anny Winter-Brunner', in stead of 'Anny Brunner-Winter'.

Coburg-abzeichen' allegedly worn by Hitler.

Lot 6263 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015, with CoA 'from Winter'.

Watch 'from Hitler's father', allegedly worn by Hitler.

Lot 6270 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015, with CoA 'from Winter'.

Moustache brush allegedly used by Hitler.

Lot 6271 on Hermann Historica auction 70r, May 12 2015, with CoA 'from Winter'.

Alleged Hitler drawing, with Winter CoA

Auctioned November 16/17, 2017, by Hermann Historica. Lot nr. 7171, sold for €2,000.-.

Text of one of these CoA's

BESTÄTIGUNG

Hiermit bestätige ich dem Historiker Herrn Dr. Henry Picker in Starnberg, daꞵ die unten beschriebenen Gegenstände us dem per. sönlichen Besitz Adolf Hitler stammen:

1. Plakette zum 9. November 1923-9.November 1933 zum Anstecken, Verläufer des Blutorden. Wurde nur an Adolf Hitler und einige seiner Mitkämpfer verliehen.

Zusammen mit anderen Sachen hat Adolf Hitler sie mir bei einem seiner letzten Münchenbesuche geschenkt, da ich als Wirtschafterin von 1929 bis 1945 seine Privatwohnung in München, Prinzregentenplatz 16/II, betreut habe. Die Sachen wurden mir durch Beschluꞵ des Landsgerichts München I am 10.März 1954 als Eigentum bestätigt und deren Rückgabe an mich verfügt (aktenz.: 9/0/265/52).

München, den 11.November 1968, Giselastr. 16

Anny Brunner-Winter