A cancelled auction of Holocaust testimonies resulted in 433 documents being transferred to Poland’s Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation.
Auction Cancellation
A planned auction for November 2025, titled “System of Terror Vol. II 1933-1945,” sparked controversy. The Felzmann auction house in Neuss, Germany, intended to sell Holocaust-related items, including letters from concentration camps and Gestapo records. Following protests, the auction was cancelled.
Document Transfer
The 433 historical documents were handed to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation based on trust principles. The items relate to WWII crimes and Nazi occupation of Poland, originating from ghettos and concentration camps, with many tied to Auschwitz. Director Wojciech Soczewica confirmed immediate negotiations secured the collection’s transfer to its rightful place.
Purchase Details
North Rhine-Westfalia acquired the documents using private donations from the Bethe Foundation, not public funds. The exact amount remains undisclosed, though “Rheinische Post” reports a low six-figure sum. Earlier, some Holocaust testimonies were purchased by a Haifa museum foundation.
