Five paintings attributed to Hitler go unsold at German auction

No bids received for watercolors amid concerns of forgery

By AP 10 February 2019, 4:24 pm

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An employee of an action house holds a watercolor landscape, allegedly painted by a young Adolf Hitler but of uncertain origin, in Berlin, Germany, January 24, 2019. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)
Three watercolor landscapes, allegedly painted by a young Adolf Hitler, are displayed at an auction house in Berlin, Germany, January 24, 2019. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)
An employee of an action house holds a watercolor landscape, allegedly painted by a young Adolf Hitler, in Berlin, Germany, January 24, 2019. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)
A watercolor landscape, allegedly painted by a young Adolf Hitler, is displayed at an auction house in Berlin, Germany, January 24, 2019. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)

BERLIN — Five watercolors attributed to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler from his early days as a struggling artist have failed to sell at auction in the southern German city of Nuremberg, possibly over fears they could be fakes.

The Nuremberger Nachrichten newspaper reported Sunday that no bids were received on the paintings, which had starting prices of between 19,000 euros ($21,500) and 45,000 euros ($50,900).

Three days before Saturday’s auction, prosecutors seized 63 other paintings attributed to Hitler from the auction house to investigate allegations they were fakes.

In Berlin last month, prosecutors seized three other Hitler watercolors after receiving a complaint questioning their authenticity.

As a young man, Hitler is thought to have painted some 2,000 pictures as he unsuccessfully struggled to succeed as an artist in Vienna before World War I.