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Hitler's Phone Up For Auction; Bids To Start At $100K

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A big part of Holocaust history is going up for auction in Maryland this weekend.

It's the phone used by Hitler in the last years of World War II, and it could fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The auctioneer in Chesapeake City calls the phone the most important piece of history to pass through his doors, and stresses the importance of keeping that history alive.

That auction will be held Saturday and Sunday in Chesapeake City, with the phone going up for auction on Sunday.

It's an artifact that's survived a war, nearly 80 years, and a trip across an ocean.

Adolf Hitler's red phone, used to make some of the most horrific and disturbing calls during the bloodiest years of World War II, is now up for auction.

"It's just a chilling artifact," said Bill Panagopolus, with Alexander Historical Artifacts. "There's no doubt it was used for a lot of bad ends."

Auctioneer Panogopulos tells WJZ's Devin Bartolotta the phone, which has Hitler's name and Nazi insignia embossed on the back, was recovered from Hitler's bunker.

It sat in a closet in Britain for decades. Now, it's expected to sell for more than $200,000.

"You can only imagine what was spoken through this handset, what kind of orders were given," said Panagopolus.

Panogopulos is no stranger to World War II artifacts. A few years ago, he auctioned off Hitler's copy of the "Mein Kampf."

This time around, he also has a porcelain German Shepherd from Hitler's bunker. It's believed to have been made by prisoners and stamped with SS insignia.

So, who buys these types of things, you might ask?

"The people who buy this material are people who love history," said Panagopolus. "I don't think they come more significant than this."

Several museums have expressed interest in buying the phone, with an eye to preserve real-life artifacts from our world history, no matter how grim their past.

"Some people say burn them or destroy them. I really think you're committing a bigger crime by doing that. You have to preserve history, even though it might be bad or terrible," said Panagopolus.

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