Seized American Nazi Paraphernalia Will Not Be Sold at Auction

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service today made known that it has decided to return Nazi flags, swastika armbands, and a picture of Adolf Hitler to George Rockwell, head of the American Nazi Party, instead of selling such items at public auction. The material was among Nazi possessions seized by the Revenue Service to meet Government claims for unpaid taxes.

In a letter to Sen. Clifford P. Case, New Jersey Republican, IRS Commissioner Cheldon S. Cohen said the Government will not dispose of the Nazi mementos at a forth coming tax sale. Sen. Case had protested against the Government selling Nazi paraphernalia because such a transaction would be “a gratuitous affront to the American people.” Mr. Cohen wrote Sen. Case that the Internal Revenue code provides for return of confiscated articles if their value is insufficient “to justify a minimum price.”