Rare German WWII Luftwaffe Desk Ornament

Description

Heavy cast bronze first pattern Luftwaffe eagle with swastika grasped in its claws atop a
globe and mounted on a two-tier marble base. Weighs a hefty 66 ounces (1863 g) and
standing 11″ tall with a 9 3/8″ wingspan. Dark patina to the bronze and a small repair to
the marble base (see photo). Taken as a war trophy by Army Private Harry Hohne and
stored in a chest until recently sold by his nephew’s wife. This example, and other items,
were purportedly taken from a colonel of the 7th SS “Prinz Eugen” Division. Hohne was
involved with rounding up artifacts from museums, etc. toward the end of the war and
shipped duffel bags filled with war trophies to his mother and sister. He never married and
passed away in 1972. Very good condition as taken and stored for over 50 years. Such
trophies are now very rare, as most examples were destroyed in the de-Nazification that
followed the war. We have never encountered another like it.