Hitler paintings

Before Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler rose to power he was a struggling amateur painter of modest talent in his home country of Austria. Had he never become the architect of the Holocaust and catalyst for World War II, the artistic efforts of his formative years would most certainly have been long forgotten.

But, as German auctioneer Herbert Weidler said of the three paintings sold in Nuremberg to different phone bidders, "various clients are interested in these paintings. They are intellectuals, businessmen or just normal people who might have saved some money and wanted such a painting."

The paintings, sold on Saturday, fetched 42,000 euros ($60,200) and were dated from 1910 to 1911. They originated in the Austrian capital, where Hitler had applied to the prestigious Vienna art school but was rejected.

Modest quality

Weidler said that "White Church in the Wachau" sold for 24,000 euros and was bought by a foreign bidder, while two domestic buyers purchased "The Crumbling Mill" for 11,000 euros and "House with Bridge on a River" for 7,000 euros.

There have been a number of other auctions of Hitler's artifacts in Germany and in England, but the authenticity of some of the items remains a bone of contention. Extracts from Hitler's diaries, published in 1983, turned out to be forgeries. Experts believe, however, that there are about 720 artworks in all, including sketches.

Asked for his professional opinion, Weidler said the artworks had "the quality of a village school art teacher, who has learned how to draw. Others might think differently, but we say they're of rather modest quality."

gb/ap/Reuters

Editor: Nick Amies