Antique items from the military past are in great demand among people collecting such things. There are no Soviet awards in it: they were hardly sold under the hammer and almost never exported abroad.
10. The logbook of Douglas Bader
Fighter pilot Aleksey Maresyev is a war hero whose stories about the exploits of children brought up children in the USSR. In England, children are very fond of stories about the pilot Douglas Bader. In the 30s of the XX century, he was left without lower limbs. However, after this Bader did not despair: he underwent medical examinations and began working again. During World War II, Bader flew along with regular pilots. This pilot was a member of the Dunker operation, he managed to shoot down a large number of German aircraft. Bader was imprisoned, but he still survived and returned home.
9. Letter from Dwight Eisenhower
Eisenhower, who later became president, led the US Army during the war against the Nazis. He commanded troops in Normandy, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. The authority of Dwight Eisenauer was very significant. In the summer of 1945, he sent a letter to Hoit Vanderberg, the Air Force General, and a very high price was charged for this message. There was no secret information in it: the commander-in-chief spoke about the successes of the American military, about the liberation of Europe from fascist invaders.
8. Archive of Peter White
Eyewitness diaries greatly helped historians to study the Second World War. They are also valued by people who collect military artifacts. Peter White is a US Army foot soldier who described what happened to him during the fighting. To do this, he used several thick notebooks.
This man was not only a good military man: he drew very well. In the notebooks there were many illustrations created by the infantryman. Peter White painted with paints, pencil and ink. Illustrations are parts of the archive that are considered the most important. White sketched the details of the soldier's life, the device of enemy military equipment, and so on.
7. US Airborne Helmet
At auctions, things that are associated with famous historical figures are especially popular. For an item that belonged to an unknown soldier, people almost always give significantly less. However, it happens differently: the helmet of an airborne paratrooper from the USA went under the hammer for an amount many times greater than 3,500 euros. This happened in 2009. A military artifact was found 20 years after the war.
6. Awards that belonged to Robert Dennis Gay
Few people know about Robert Dennis Gay, but one cannot fail to note that his feat saved many lives. In the fall of 1944, the Nazis and Allied forces clashed in Arnhem. Gay, a British soldier, ran to an enemy tank to save the lives of his friends. He took fire on himself. Dennis Gay managed to survive, but he was seriously injured. Then Gay looked after the military, who were shell-shocked during the battle.
5. Encryption machine "Enigma"
This device appeared in the 20s of the last century, but began to actively use it after the outbreak of the war with the Germans. Many Enigma cars were owned by the Nazis. It was almost impossible to crack the code of this device, but British decryption specialists successfully coped with this. When the Third Reich fell, cars began to be exported from Germany by soldiers of the armies of the victorious countries. At present, finding such a device is quite simple. One of the cars was used to shoot a historical film, and then it was sold at Christie’s.
4. Letters from Anne Frank
There were a lot of victims of the Nazis during the war with the Nazis, but Anna Frank is the only person who became a symbol of their suffering. The general grief of all mankind is embodied in the fate of a Jewish girl. During the hostilities, the Frank sisters sent friends from America a postcard and two letters. At the end of the 80s of the last century, they were put up for sale. Whoopi Goldberg, an American actress, wanted to acquire these artifacts, but she was ahead of the person who wished to remain anonymous. After that, the letters ended up at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
3. Writing instruments that belonged to Hitler
Hitler is a very repulsive historical figure, but many collectors seek to acquire the things that once belonged to him. For them, Hitler's writing instrument, which consists of a paperweight, a pair of inkwells and a heavy bronze stand, is especially interesting. After the hostilities ended, Jack McCon, a US Army lieutenant, took the writing instrument from Germany. However, McCon did not immediately realize that he had taken out a very expensive artifact.
2. Battle rewards of Edward Kenna
A few years ago, the awards of Edward Kenna, an Australian private soldier, were sold. The man who acquired these military artifacts wished to remain anonymous. However, it was clear that, first of all, the buyer sought to seize one of the most famous military awards - the Victoria Cross. Such military artifacts are sold very rarely: most often they are transferred to a museum or stored as family heirlooms. Relatives of the private decided to dispose of their inheritance in a special way. Edward Kenna received his reward for having attacked the bunker of enemy soldiers alone.
1. Hawker Hurricane fighter
Large military equipment is rarely sold at auctions. Firstly, it is very difficult to transport, so buyers are hesitant, and secondly, planes and tanks that have survived from the war, are most often in museums. However, Hawker Hurricane, a British fighter, is still for sale, and more than $ 2 million will be paid for it. This fighter is equipped with twelve machine guns. It is in good condition, you can fly on it.