Adolf Hitler's Used Underwear Sells for $5,500 in Maryland Auction; They Were 'Surprisingly Large'
A pair of Adolf Hitler's linen underwear has been recently sold for $5,500 in the United States.
The German Nazi party leader's used boxers was sold at the Alexander Historical Auctions in Chesapeake City, Maryland, according to reports. The item, along with other memorabilia, has been auctioned as part of the auctioneer's "Summer Militaria Auction" last Sept. 14.
The item is a pair of stripedd white linen boxers with a size that has been described as "surprisingly large." The product description on the auction house's official website notes it has a waist of 39 inches, with 19 inches in length.
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"There are also two pairs of loops sewn on either side of the front of the waist band, whose purpose must have been to support the drawers in some fashion, probably fastening to the pants," the website pointed out. "It is no secret, of course, that Hitler was, in general, an atrocious dresser and preferred the loosest clothing, according to his valet, Karl Wilhelm Krause."
To further prove the underwear's authenticity, the initials "A.H." can be seen stiched on the fly. Reports note the shorts were left in a suite at the luxury Parkhotel Graz in Austria in April 1938. The person who sold it to Alexander Historical Auctions was the grandson of the hotel's owners at the time.
The boxers were sent to the laundry to get cleaned, but it was never picked up by the dictator's entourage before they eventually left the premises. In an interview, auctioneer Bill Panagopulos explained why an item like Hitler's used underwear was sold for a significantly high price.
"People tend to either buy fearsome Hitler memorabilia or things that make him look like a buffoon, such as this," he said. "To minimize a monster, you make people laugh at him."
