BOUCKVILLE, N.Y. – A trove of books from Adolf Hitler’s personal library seized by an American Major in Berlin in May 1945, a U.S. World War II Purple Heart awarded to a member of the heroic “Filthy Thirteen” at Normandy, a late 18th century British seven-barrel Nock short rifle and a circa 1900-1914 Imperial German reserve officer’s parade helmet are just a few of the items to be sold at Mohawk Arms’ Auction #72, a live and internet auction that ends Dec. 5-6.

The auction, featuring 1,900 lots of military items from multiple wars and generations, will be held in Mohawk Arms’ Bouckville, N.Y., gallery (located on Route 20 in central New York state, not far from Interstates 90 and 81) as well as online, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com or the Mohawk Arms website, www.MilitaryRelics.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be taken.

The auction will be packed with rare and highly collectible items from a wide array of categories to include awards and medals (especially German WWII combat awards), ethnographic weapons (to include Southeast Asia), edged weapons (combat and production knives, bayonets, Civil War and European swords, etc.), Third Reich and other German memorabilia and reference books.

Also offered will be American Civil War and Revolutionary War canteens (mostly from one collection), Imperial German helmets (including rare units), British Napoleonic-era spontoons (spears), U.S. World War I uniforms, antique firearms, Civil War leather goods, photo images, letters, Nazi peaked caps, Imperial German Regimental steins, field equipment and other items.

The cache of eight books taken from Adolf Hitler’s personal library in the days following World War II will be sold as single lots and carry minimum bids of $250-$950 each. They were seized by an American Major with the 713th MP Battalion and his French counterpart, who had access to the Reich Chancellery. The books contain Hitler’s hand-penciled comments and directives.

The Purple Heart awarded to Cpl. Joseph E. Oleskiewicz – a member of the “Filthy Thirteen,” the 1st Demolition Section of the Regimental Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division, dropped into Normandy on June 6, 1944 – has a minimum bid of $1,500. Half the men were either killed, wounded or captured. Oleskiewicz survived, but was killed in battle in Sept. 1944.

The late 1700s British flintlock volley gun, or seven-barrel short rifle, made by and marked “H. Nock,” is a rare first model, with a longer, more narrow lock with an “L”-shaped frizzen spring. All seven barrels bear British proofs and overall they have a patina on the steel finish. The rifle, with brass trigger guard, side plate and butt plate and a wood stock, carries a $16,500 minimum.

The early 20th century Imperial German 100th King of Saxony reserve officer’s parade helmet is distinguished by a pronounced black horsehair parade brush on top. It has a solid black leather body with a gilt crowned Saxon shield and large gold reservist cross mounted on a convex silver starburst. With proper national and state rosettes, the handsome example has a $3,200 minimum.

A grouping of uniforms worn by USMC Sgt. Ernie Hartgraves during World War II, as well as a collection of souvenirs Hartgraves acquired during the battles for Peleliu and Okinawa, will start at $1,250. Also, a U.S. World War II 1st Ranger Battalion special combat knife with a 9 ¼ inch Bowie blade and engraved “Old Faithful” and “Australia – Aug. 20, 1943,” will start at $1,000.

Civil War items will feature a Presidential commission, signed by Abraham Lincoln promoting 1st Lt. Lewis S. Wisner to Captain for “great gallantry at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Va., on May 2, 1864” (MB: $2,000); and a well-made Confederate wood drum canteen with iron bands and strap loops, with typical irregular workmanship but an in very good plus condition (MB: $1,200).

Third Reich memorabilia is always in demand among collectors. Star lots include a Luftwaffe Signal Regiment standard, an exquisitely embroidered 4 foot by 4 foot piece with Iron Cross and swastika (MB: $16,500); and a Luftwaffe silver pokal (or silver footed chalice) awarded to the Nazi flying ace Karl Nordmann, showing eagles in combat and a 1939 Iron Cross (MB: $7,500).

Other Third Reich items will feature a Knight’s Cross award and other items pertaining to Gen. Dr. Franz Beyer, Commandeer of the 44th Nazi Infantry Division, including his hunting license (MB: $5,250); and a Gestapo nickel-silver oval badge with relied eagle-swastika (MB: $5,000). The badge was shown and used with impunity by members of the feared German Secret Police.

Additional items in the auction will include a group of 16 cartes de visites showing members of Astor’s Artillery Battery, formed and funded by the industrialist Col. John Jacob Astor at the start of the Spanish-American War (MB: $2,400); and a pair of Napoleonic Wars-period British sergeants’ spontoons, or broadleaf blades on a staff, dating to the Waterloo era (MB: $1,500).

Previews will be held at the Mohawk Arms gallery, located on Route 20 in Bouckville, every Monday through Friday leading up to Dec. 5th, from 9-6 (EDT), and on sale days (Dec. 5th-6th), from 8-9 a.m. The first gavel will come down both days at 9:30 a.m. A buyer’s premium, which can range from 16-22 percent, depending on the final price, will be applied to all purchases.

Mohawk Arms, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single item, a collection or an entire estate, you may call them at (315) 893-7888; or, you can e-mail them at Mohawk@MilitaryRelics.com. To learn more about Mohawk Arms and Auction #72, which goes online soon and ends Dec. 5th and 6th, please visit the website www.MilitaryRelics.com.

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