Jewish leaders called Thursday on a U.S. auction house to abandon the sale of a host Nazi paraphernalia scheduled the next day.
Over 30 members of the Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) co-signed an open letter calling for Maryland-based Alexander Historical Auctions to drop the auction.
"This auction, whether unwittingly or not, is doing two things: One, giving succor to those who idealize what the Nazi party stood for. Two: Offering buyers the chance to titillate a guest or loved one with an item belonging to a genocidal murderer and his supporters," wrote EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin.
"The sale of these items is an abhorrence," he added. "There is little to no intrinsic historical value to the vast bulk of the lots on display. Indeed, one can only question the motivation of those buying them.
Whilst it is obvious that the lessons of history need to be learned — and legitimate Nazi artifacts do belong in museums or places of higher learning — the items that you are selling clearly do not."
The items auctioned off include a gold watch and a glass belonging to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and items belonging to his partner, Eva Braun, including a dress and dog collar for her terrier.
Other items on sale included cutlery belonging to senior Nazi officials and even Wehrmacht-labeled toilet paper.
Hitler's watch was expected to go for between $2 million-$4 million.