The upcoming Downies Australian Coin Auctions military auction was also set to feature items such as Third Reich badges and a military dress sword.
But after coming under fire from the Anti-Defamation Commission, a Jewish organisation working to combat anti-Semitism, Downies Collectables says it will no longer offer Nazi militaria at any auction.
“We’ve introduced a policy which will no longer take consignments of Third Reich material,” its chief executive Sally Spaul told the Herald Sun on Friday.
The company on its website said it had received a complaint about the inclusion of the objects in the World Military Medals and Militaria auction, to be held in Box Hill between October 31 and November 1.
British, US and Australian war memorabilia had been listed alongside “genuine” Hitler Youth badges, a variety of Third Reich badges, and a military belt and dress sword.
”We are a family owned and operated company with a strong set of values which guide the way we do business,” Downies said in a statement, explaining its decision to pull the items.
The Anti-Defamation Commission earlier this week labelled the sale of Third Reich memorabilia “stomach-churning”, with chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich fearing the objects could fall into the hands of neo-Nazis.
Downies initially stood firm on their sale, with Tony Gordon saying they were “catalogued on a factual basis and do not receive promotion”.
“We are sensitive to the community reaction to this type of material,” he said in an earlier statement to the Herald Sun.
“As a reputable auction house some of our customers are institutions and museums, who ensure that historical objects such as these are displayed in the context of the era.
Dr Abramovich on Friday thanked Downies for agreeing to stop selling Nazi memorabilia, which he said was a victory for Holocaust victims and survivors.
“These items of evil should never find a home in our nation and no company should profit from blood money,” he added.
“I call on all other companies to follow suit, and urge the state and federal government to consider regulating this perverse and sickening trade.”