NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2022 Nov 22 @ 10:00UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Set of ten drawings made by Corporal A.F. Sunshine, after the discovery of a massive German treasure in the Salt Mines, at Merkers, Germany, on April 8, 1945, when American troops blasted a hole into the vault, the so-called Room No. 8, containing Nazi loot stored in the Merkers Salt Mine. Eight of the ten drawings are original pencil sketches, signed 'Cpl. A.F. Sunshine '45', at the bottom right, depicting an American G.I. standing behind a .30 Caliber machine gun, and using bags of money in place of sandbags, suitcases stored in the vault by SS which contained jewelry and gold that had been seized from Jews, many whom were killed in concentration camps, crates of stolen artwork with a sign in the back that reads, 'You are nothing, your people is everything', piled up bags from the Deutsche Reichsbank, a sketch of a rail cart which ran down the center of the vault loaded with treasure bags, the interior and exterior of the vault door, and the shaft elevator to the mine. Two sketches are plans showing the location of the mine in Germany and the exterior plan of the area with the marked location of the shaft to the vault. Each sketch is approx. 17.75 x 11 inches on heavy artist paper and all except for one are covered with protective parchment sheet. In February 1945, most of the gold and currency reserves of the Reichsbank were transported to Merkers for safekeeping. Confiscated property of the SS consisting of gold and silver items once belonging to concentration camp victims were placed in 18 bags and 189 suitcases and were sent to Merkers by rail in March 1945. Along with the gold and currency of the Reichsbank, the SS loot was stored in Room No. 8 of the salt mine. Attempts were made to remove the treasure from the mine as the Americans were approaching, but this was ultimately abandoned. On April 7th, military personnel interrogated civilians about the mine. Several entrances to the mine were found and General Earnest directed the First Battalion of the 357th Infantry Regiment to guard the Merkers mine entrances. Early the next day, General Earnest, Russell, photographers, reporters and other members of the 282nd Engineer Combat Battalion entered the mine. A half-stick of dynamite was used to blast through the three foot thick brick wall. Tram railway tracks ran down the center of the cavern and more than seven thousand bags were discovered. At the back, 18 bags and 189 suitcases of gold were found. On April 12th, Patton, Eisenhower, and Bradley entered the mine and examined the treasure found. In total, 400 tons of artwork was found and the gold, silver, and currency was valued to be over $520 million. General Dwight D. Eisenhower later wrote: 'Crammed into suitcases and trunks...was a great amount of gold...obviously looted from private dwellings throughout Europe.' General George S. Patton would write that he saw 'a number of suitcases filled with jewelry, such as silver and gold cigarette cases, wrist-watch cases, spoons, forks, vases, gold-filled teeth, false teeth, etc.' acquired by 'bandit methods.'
Auction Location:
227 East Main Street, Elkton, Maryland, 21921, United States
Previewing Details:
By appointment at our offices in Maryland.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| MD |
6% |
Maryland Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
30% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
In-house shipping.
Payment Details:
No Info Available
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
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- Discover
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- Wire Transfer
- Cash
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