368 A Pair of Black trousers with secret gun compartement of the Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler (ex Lattimer Collection).
Adolf Hitler's personal long black trousers.
Fine black gabardine. Front with two cut-in pockets, the left without pocket sack, the right with a large, light brown leather pocket sack to hold his Walther PPK Pistol. Two back pockets with flaps, of which the rightmost is likewise furbished in leather. Waist size adjuster, with one exception the dark waist buttons marked “Herm. Scherrer München”, the waist clasp with maker “Kronen Haken”, the cloth with maker “G R G”, the waist lined with light cream-coloured silklike cloth, waist width adjustment 96 cm, length 115 cm, length of trousers legs to instep 80 cm.
In the right leather pocket Hitler was said to carry his Walther PPK, the left, now absent, was supposed to be enlarged by Hitler’s valet Heinz Linge, but this did not happen due to the turmoil at the end of the war. Hermann Scherrer was a long-established Munich fashion house from 1886, very popular with the wealthier citizens, and in 1907 had a lavish advertising poster made by the famous artist Ludwig Hohlwein: “Hermann Scherrer Breechesmaker - Sporting-Tailor - Neuhauser Str. 32”.
Included with tis lot is a typed and handwritten certificate of origin by Hitlers personal valet SS - Obersturmbannführer Heinz Linge from 1971, a corresponding 1972 statement from Martha Bornholdt, Hitler’s former chambermaid, also in English from 1972, and a 1982 statement from William R. McClure to Ben E. Swearingen as well as four Polaroid photos of the trousers with signatures of Heinz Linge or Martha Bornholdt, a large Hoffmann photo of Hitler and Linge with a reverse statement of Linge in English “...and I confirm that the black pair of trousers which are in your possession are those which the Fuehrer has been wearing. Heinz Linge.”, lastly a colour photo of the pair of trousers with stamping “William McClure,
Pontiac, Michigan, USA” and a handwritten note “Adolf Hitler trousers purchased from Heinz Linge. Certif. by Linge.
Pictured and described in John K. Lattimer, Hitler and the Nazi Leaders - A Unique Insight into Evil, p.47, Fig. 29,30.
A highly interesting historical object of museum quality.
Hitler often wore this type of trousers during WW II with his field grey uniform jacket.
Very intersting and fascinating is the right leather pocket sack for Hitler’s PPK 7.65 mm, and reportedly he carried the smaller PPK 6.35 mm in the back pocket. Hitler was a trained and sure marksman. His body guards nicknamed him the 12th Shooter whose coldblooded reaction could be relied on in case of an assassination attempt (Henry Picker, Hitler’s Table Talk in the Führer Headquarter, 23 March 1942).
PROVENANCE: Heinz Linge, Hitler’s personal valet. William R. McClure, Pontiac, Michigan USA. Ben E. Swearingen, Lewisville, Texas. USA.
John K. Lattimer - Collection.
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