UPDATE Montreal Auction House Suspended, Holocaust and Nazi Relics Removed from Online Platform Following FSWC Action

Written by Admin | March 10, 2021

Following action by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), an online auction platform has suspended a Montreal auction house and removed disturbingHolocaust and Nazi relics that were being sold in an auction.

In an email sent to FSWC yesterday, LiveAuctioneers stated that it is suspending the auction house Madison’sHistorical’s listing privileges because they violated a number of listing policies, “including those policies that seek to limit the glorification of vile historical objectsand to discourage the modern replication of hateful items.” All of the auction house’s items - including a used Zyklon B gas canister, SS weapons and military gear, personalitems and documents belonging to concentration camp prisoners, among many other items - have since been removed from the platform.

Madison's Historical, which calls itself "a web-based platform auctioneer" that specializes in "World War II andHolocaust related material," has not responded to FSWC's concerns but has since taken down its website.

In response to this update, FSWC president and CEO Michael Levitt issued the followingstatement:

“We are pleased to see the quick removal of the Holocaust and Nazi relics from this online platform, but aredisappointed to see the lack of sensitivity and understanding from the auction house, which not only chose to sell and make a profit from these items, but also glorified manyof the items, including calling a Zyklon B gas canister used at a concentration camp ‘the holy grail’ and a ‘lifetime opportunity.’ This is utterly grotesque and an insult tothe 6 million Jews and millions of others who were murdered by the Nazi regime. There is no place for such relics other than in a museum or educational institution wherepeople can learn more about the items and gain a better understanding of the Holocaust and atrocities committed during that time by Nazis and theircollaborators.”

FSWC will continue monitoring to ensure the items are not moved to another auction platform.

Media Contact:

Avital Borisovsky

Associate Director, Communications

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies

aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Toronto (March 9, 2021) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is calling on a Montreal-based auction house to immediately removedisturbing Holocaust and Nazi relics - including a used Zyklon B gas canister, SS weapons and military gear, as well as personal items and documents belonging toconcentration camp prisoners - from its online auction.

Madison's Historical, which calls itself "a web-based platform auctioneer" that specializes in"World War II and Holocaust related material," is selling the items in an auction that closes on April 4 on the platform LiveAuctioneers. Neither Madison’s Historical norLiveAuctioneers have responded to FSWC's request for the removal of the items.

"It's unconscionable that someone could profit from or purchase these items, especially murderweapons that contributed to the deaths of 6 million Jews and millions of others," said Michael Levitt, FSWC president and CEO. "As Holocaust awareness diminishes, the needfor Holocaust education is becoming more important than ever. That is why these items should be donated to a museum or educational institution to be used to educate peopleabout the Holocaust, not sold for profit and potentially end up in the hands of those with nefarious motivations.”

FSWC calls on LiveAuctioneers to adopt policies similar to those of other large auction platformssuch as eBay which prohibit the sale of Nazi military propaganda and relics.