I just saw this watch. I'm not sure if it's been discussed here already. But... yeah. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...ined&queryID=f5db6d84a809d5f8c50fc11714a5d882 Excerpts from the description: "A World War II relic of historic proportions, a gold Andreas Huber reversible wristwatch, given to Adolf Hitler himself most likely on April 20, 1933, when on his 44th birthday the dictator was named with former Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, an honorary citizen of Bavaria – the first such honor in the history of Germany." "On May 4, 1945, about thirty French soldiers belonging to the Regiment de Marche du Tchad, a unit of the 2nd Armored Division commanded by the brilliant General Philippe Leclerc, stormed the Berghof, barely ahead of the American troops of the 3rd Armored Division. Among the members of this unit was Sergeant Robert Mignot who with his comrades quickly gained access to Hitler's secondary residence and the Eagle's Nest, both abandoned by all the occupants and guards. They also discovered the vast system of tunnels and bunkers under the house. This is probably where this watch – and other valuables – were found and taken away by the French as war souvenirs. Reports written at the time, contemporary documents and diaries, as well as statements from veterans, clearly show that these French soldiers certainly had ample time on the spot to hunt for any ‘spoils of war' they could find, limited only by what they could carry in their backpacks. Of course, items marked with Hitler's name were considered the best prizes, and many of these historic relics have come to market in the intervening years. Sergeant Mignot returned to France with the watch and resold it over time to his cousin, our consignor's grandfather. It has remained in the exclusive possession of the Mignot family and that of our consignor since its discovery and has never been offered for sale before. Sergeant Robert Mignot's service record with the 2nd Armored Division is also fully documented with records, documents, photographs and a statement from a fellow soldier, with copies available to potential bidders. A detailed letter of provenance from Mignot's daughter is also present." "The swastika is surrounded by three dates: "20.4.89-30.1.33-5.3.33". The first date (20.4.89) corresponds to Hitler's date of birth in Braunau Am Inn, Austria. The second date (30.1.33) marks the date of his appointment as Chancellor of Germany, when Field Marshal Paul Von Hindenburg asked Hitler, leader of the NSDAP, to form a new German government. The third date (5.3.33) celebrates the date of the federal elections in Germany which gave Hitler access to full power." "Jaeger-LeCoultre advises it has no production records regarding this watch. No wartime documents can be obtained from Andreas Huber – their factory was bombed and subsequently burned down during World War II."
Very interesting – thanks for posting! I suspect, unfortunately, that this thread may be ill-fated, due to the objections that some will have about the auction. But there's no denying that it appears to be a remarkable historical piece.