Nazi leader's signet ring passed in at auction

The chunky ring, bearing Goering's personal seal, could fetch up to $30,000, says auctioneer Dunbar Sloane snr. Picture / Brett Phibbs

A gold ring worn by Nazi leader Hermann Goering in the last years of World War II is waiting for a buyer after it was passed in at auction at $20,000.

The chunky signet ring bearing Goering's personal seal was in a militaria auction at Dunbar Sloane in Auckland at the weekend.

It was brought to New Zealand by a European man who bought it at an auction in Hamburg and now lives in Auckland.

The ring's certificate of authentication says it was confiscated from Reichmarschall Hermann Goering, founder of the Gestapo and the Luftwaffe, when he surrendered to US Forces at Zell am See in Austria on May 7, 1945. He was convicted of war crimes, and committed suicide hours before he was to be executed October 15, 1946.

Dunbar Sloane snr said personal memorabilia from the leaders of the Nazi regime was very rare in New Zealand, although items such as daggers were common.

Last year, Dunbar Sloane auctioned a religious text book with Adolf Hitler's ex libris bookplate and a dedication from a Lutheran pastor for $8500, and a typed thank-you card signed by Hitler for $6500.

Goering was known to design much of his own jewellery, and the ring contains the star-shaped medal he won for his role in the German Air Force in World War I, as well as a family coat of arms.

It was made in 1942 by Goering's favourite jeweller, Professor Herbert Zeitner.

"Goering was quite a flamboyant man who wore things like blue coats and pink lapels, and decorative daggers," Mr Sloane said.

"He also had many rings, but this one would be one of the more important because it was his personal seal."

He said a silver ring once owned by Goering was sold at a British auction for about 1800 ($4600) three weeks ago.

He estimated this ring could be worth up to $30,000.

"It must be of historical importance, although it's not so much a symbol of Nazi power as of personal political power.

"Nazi collectors might not buy it because of the lack of Nazi insignia."

Although there was still some discomfort about Nazi-associated memorabilia, Mr Sloane said, "it's part of history and you can't just rub it out".

Hermann Goering

* Goering created the Luftwaffe and commanded its operations.
* He was Deputy Fuhrer and the most trusted member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle. He drove the effort to build Germany's concentration camps and was a signatory to the Final Solution calling for the extermination of all Jews.
* He was convicted of war crimes but committed suicide with a cyanide tablet hours before he was to be executed on May 7, 1945.