Notebook Written by Adolf Hitler Found in Attic, Sold for £26,000

A notebook allegedly authored by Adolf Hitler has reportedly been discovered in an attic and sold to a private collector for £26,000 (€30,000).

According to images shared online, the notebook contains 113 handwritten pages, including references to prominent Nazi official Hermann Göring and German-born Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich. Some entries reportedly suggest that Hitler expressed admiration and affection for Dietrich within the writings.

The notebook was initially offered to German author Olaf Haubold, 74, but he was unable to meet the seller’s asking price. Haubold later helped facilitate a deal with a collector he knew, who eventually purchased the item for the reported £26,000.
Speaking to NeedToKnow, Haubold said: “In 2008, an elderly gentleman came to my office and offered me documents from Adolf Hitler’s estate.

“It seemed suspicious to me at first, but I asked him to show me a sample.

“He then came with a notebook and several documents that initially appeared to be authentic.

“Because I lack expertise in this area, I sought help from historians, and we concluded that there was a possibility of its authenticity.

“But the asking price was too high for me, given the uncertainties.

“At the time, I knew a wealthy collector who had also sponsored some of my projects.

“He was prepared to pay the asking price for the entire collection.

“I don’t know the exact fee, the price mentioned in reports is an estimate.”

The gentleman who offered the collection didn’t want to say anything about its origin.

“The ‘attic find’ explanation was too vague for us.

“Some documents bear stamps of the Ministry for State Security of the former GDR, otherwise known as the Stasi.

“It’s possible it came from somewhere like that.”

He added: “I only have the publication rights from the collector and now from his heirs.

“The collection is still complete and has not yet been offered publicly at auction or in any other way.

“The notebook is old; whether it contains Hitler’s handwriting is unproven.

“Despite the uncertainties, I decided to publish the material.

“The esteemed reader may form their own opinion.”

In his own opinion, Olaf said it’s “very likely” the work was produced by Hitler’s hand.

In the first pages, Hitler is quoted as criticising the Reich Chancellery before moving in.

“The building is in a state of complete decay. Ceiling and floor are rotten. Wallpaper and flooring are decayed.

“The highlight was a bath in the bathroom. Should I bathe in everyone’s sewage? Never!”

After a birthday party, he is said to have written the following about his deputy: “Göring ate like a pig again.”

Speaking about Marlene Dietrich, he said: “I have to try to bring her back to Germany.

“I’ve had all of Dietrich’s new films sent to me.

“I think I’ve fallen in love with her.

“Eva doesn’t stand a chance against Dietrich.

“But I won’t let on. The woman has to come to Germany, even if it’s by force. I’ll set the intelligence service on her.

“Dietrich is hanging around with the Americans now. I’ll write her another letter.

“The best thing would be to offer her money. Women will do anything for money, you can see that with Eva.

“I’ll use Eva as a test subject and study her behaviour.

“I’m going to make Dietrich a money offer and see if she takes the bait.

“So, let’s get to work. Because I am the Führer.

“The secret service says it won’t be so easy to get hold of Dietrich.

“What is easy anyway! I told them to put in the effort. I want to see results.

“That’s what they’re paid for, and not badly at that.”

This is not the first time documents have been attributed to Hitler, pointing to past controversies surrounding similar discoveries.

In 1983, German magazine Stern famously bought what became known as the Hitler Diaries—a collection of 60 volumes purportedly written by the Nazi leader. The journals were later exposed as forgeries, leading to the conviction of two individuals who defrauded the publication of 9.3 million Deutsche Marks, equivalent to roughly £2.3 million at the time.

The scandal later inspired the 1992 satirical film Schtonk!, which dramatized the events surrounding the fake diaries.