Sun Nov 16 22:54:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

A German auction house, Felzmann, was scheduled to auction off Holocaust artifacts, including letters written by prisoners, Gestapo index cards, and other documents. The auction was met with strong condemnation from Holocaust survivors and the International Auschwitz Committee, who argued that such items should be preserved for families, museums, and memorials, not exploited for commercial gain. Following complaints and intervention from the Polish Foreign Minister, who relayed information from his German counterpart, the auction was cancelled.

News Article:

Holocaust Artifact Auction Cancelled in Germany Following Outcry

BERLIN (November 17, 2025) — A planned auction of Holocaust artifacts in Germany has been cancelled following widespread condemnation from Holocaust survivors and international organizations. The auction, organized by Auktionhaus Felzmann and scheduled for Monday, November 17th, featured over 600 items, including letters written by concentration camp prisoners, Gestapo index cards, and other documents identifying individuals.

The International Auschwitz Committee denounced the auction as “a cynical and shameless undertaking” that exploited the suffering of victims for commercial gain. Christoph Heubner, an executive vice president of the committee, emphasized that such historical documents belong to the families of victims and should be displayed in museums or memorial exhibitions, not treated as commodities.

The planned auction drew swift action from Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who contacted his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul. Sikorski announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they “agreed that such a scandal must be prevented,” and thanked Wadephul for the information that the auction was cancelled.

The collection, titled “The System of Terror,” was to be held in Neuss, near Düsseldorf. While Felzmann Auctionhaus did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the listing for the auction was removed from their website Sunday afternoon. The cancellation has been welcomed by survivor groups as a victory for preserving the memory of the Holocaust with dignity and respect.

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