closeicon
Israel

Sale of Auschwitz tattoo equipment plumbs to ‘depths of depravity’ says Holocaust charity

The items have been listed by a Jerusalem auctioneer

articlemain

LONDON - DECEMBER 9: Auschwitz survivor Mr. Leon Greenman, prison number 98288, displays his number tattoo on December 9, 2004 at the Jewish Museum in London, England. Mr. Greenman O.B.E age 93 and a British citizen, spent three years of his life in six different concentration camps during World War II and since 1946 he has tirelessly recounted his life through his personal exhibition at the museum where he conducts educational events to all age groups. January 2005 will be the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the extermination and concentration camps, when survivors and victims who suffered as a result of the Holocaust will commemorated across the world. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Several Holocaust charities have condemned the attempted sale of Auschwitz tattoo equipment by a Jerusalem-based auctioneer.

Auctioneer Meir Tzolman has said that the sale was intended to ‘increase awareness’ and not to ‘diminish the value of the Holocaust’

He told the Times of Israel:”"I want to make sure that the item gets into the right hands and does not disappear from the pages of history."

The auction lot includes stamps that would have been dipped in ink as well as an instruction booklet.

On the website where the stamps are listed, they are described in Hebrew as:”A shocking and extremely rare museum item of unparalleled historical significance” as well as noting that the lot is one of only three similar collections that survive to today.

The two remaining collections are housed in the Military Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in the museum operating at the memorial site where the Auschwitz camp was located.

The current leading bid for the Auschwitz tattoo stamps is over $3,000.

The sale of these items has come under criticism with Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem tweeting in Hebrew that:”Such trade is problematic and we oppose it.”
 

In the UK, the Holocaust Educational Trust has also condemned the sale with Chief Executive Karen Pollock saying: “This is abhorrent and plummets to new depths of depravity - making a profit off the equipment used to maim and mark Jews out for death. It’s despicable and these items should never be on sale.” 

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive