Source: Lincolnshire Echo 20/7/2011
A NAZI war plate found at a Spanish flea market by a Lincoln war memorabilia enthusiast will go up for auction.
The silver plate, which was presented to German pilot Wilhelm Brunner was made in 1938 and is embossed with the Nazi standard.
Picture right by Anna Draper
A second, smaller plate which will also go under the hammer was presented to an unknown member of the German army in 1941.
They will be up for sale at Unique Auctions in Whisby Road, Lincoln, on Saturday.
The plates were discovered by Adam Wallis, of Lincoln, when he was browsing a flea market in Spain.
He said: “I spotted them and I was a bit surprised. I tried to find out how they had ended up there but hit a bit of a dead end.
“It was difficult to find out a lot about the plates. I am interested in war memorabilia and thought they might be worth something, so picked them up.
“I’m downsizing now and someone said there was a really big market for things like that at the moment so I decided to put them in an auction and see how they did.
“I might put some more of my collection in later. I know that there might be a bit of controversy surrounding their origins but I think a lot of people can just appreciate something that is interesting, especially with Lincolnshire having such a strong link with the RAF.
“It is also good there will be international bidders. Hopefully, they will go to someone who knows more about it than me.”
Similar plates have been seen with an H on the back, to indicate that it was presented by Adolf Hitler, but this one does not have the initial on it.
Owner of Unique Auctions Terry Woodcock said: “We’re expecting some really big international interest in the plates. War memorabilia is very big at the moment and there are some really knowledgeable collectors out there who keep an eye out for items like these.
“Obviously, whenever Nazi stuff comes up for sale there is a bit of controversy. Some people tend to think we shouldn’t sell it at all, but it is all part of history.
“With the lots being online it has become so difficult to give valuations. The international market we’re tapping in to in Russia and China means collectors want different things, you don’t know what is going to grab them and do really well.
“Some things we’ve valued at £200 and they’ve gone for more than £1,000.”
