Stock#: JH60420

DESCRIPTION: EPW - A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, minute repeater presented by Adolf Hitler to Dr. Theodor Morell, 57mm, 18K gold original A. Lange & Söhne HC with inner front lid engraved "Zum 22.7.44 mit den herzlichsten wünschen Adolf Hitler" (translates as "On July 22, 1944, with warmest wishes from Adolf Hitler"), front and rear with small Jurgensen-style lips, gold cuvette, white enamel DS dial, gold hands, SW-shift-locking-LS with setting mechanism released by depress of button in crown, lever escapement with capped escape wheel, gold escape wheel and pallet, diamond endstone, 29J per factory records, gilt mvt, s#91764 with matching serial number within case. Comes with its original box containing certificate with correctly matched serial number marking. Gross weight of assembled watch 92.1 dwt (143.3 g). A watch of tremendous historical significance involving core figures in one of humanity's darkest chapters; Dr. Theodor Morell was Adolf Hitler's personal physician from 1936 to 1945, and this watch was presented by Hitler to Morell on the date of his 58th birthday. Morell was known for his unconventional practices and throughout this time administered a dizzying array of powerful drugs to Hitler via both injection and pills; and to what extent these "treatments" by Morell may have shaped Hitler's thoughts and actions during this period remains a subject of important historical debate. The presentation of the watch on this date is noted in Morell's personal diaries, and of interesting historical note this date was just a single day after the failed assassination plot of Operation Valkyrie that targeted Hitler with a bomb, and immediately following this failed assassination attempt Hitler's injuries were treated by Morell. The watch was liberated in 1945 by U.S. military member H.R. Ira of Missouri who was a member of the 101st airborne and was tasked with guard duty of the Morell laboratory in the Platterhof Hotel of Obersalzberg, Germany. Shortly following Ira's return to the United States following the war, this watch was displayed in the window of Schneider Jewelry Co. of 736 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, MO as noted in a local newspaper article of the time. In July of 1996, the watch was sold by members of Ira's family to the German militaria collector Thomas Wittmann. As pictured, this lot also comes with a copy of the newspaper article describing the watch's post-war display at Schneider Jewelry, with numerous documents regarding its sale from the Ira family to Thomas Wittmann, with the book "The Secret Diaries of Hitler's Doctor" in which Morell documents his receipt of the watch on his birthday, and with the book "Blitzed Drugs in the Third Reich." A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF THIS LOT WILL BE DONATED TO THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, DC, USA. Their mission: "The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is working to keep Holocaust memory alive while inspiring citizens and leaders to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity in our constantly changing world." You can learn more at https://www.ushmm.org/
CONDITION: Mvt: Running, good repeat function and tone apart from some sluggishness to striking of higher numbers of minute strikes, virtually mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, superb gilt surfaces, infinitesimal specks of oxide to loop of regulator spring; nearly flawless dial with tiny edge nick under bezel at 12:30 that is aligned with a small file mark on dial's canister ring; nearly mint hands; case shows hardly any wear, some small dings to upper-center of front causing a rippling of reflected light in these areas, case front and rear open a bit short of 90 degrees (to approximately 80 degrees each); tight bow, crown shows hardly any wear; good glass crystal; box shows very little wear, some mild finish loss at corners and edges, outer material peeling up at one side of rear over hinge area, interior excellent, an extra mainspring wrapped in paper sits below the cap of the smaller compartment.
ESTIMATE: $50000 - $100000