Jewish groups have condemned the multi-million dollar sale of jewels belonging to a billionaire whose husband made his fortune in Nazi Germany.

Heidi Horten was an Austrian heiress whose German husband, Helmut Horten, had been a Nazi party member.

He took over Jewish firms as their owners left 1930s Germany.

Christie's auction house is now putting 700 pieces of jewellery, estimated to be worth more than $150 million (£118 million), under the hammer.

The proceeds will go to charity, including Holocaust research, and Christie's will also make a "significant contribution" to good causes.

Mrs Horten died last year aged 81, with a fortune of $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.

 

Her husband, who died in Switzerland in 1987, took over textile company Alsberg after its Jewish owners fled in 1936.

This was the first of several Jewish businesses he acquired under Nazi rule. His department store Horten AG became one of the biggest in Germany.

A recent report by historians commissioned by the Horten Foundation found had been a member of the Nazi party before being expelled.

22 hours ago, Social Media said:

Jewish groups have condemned the multi-million dollar sale of jewels belonging to a billionaire whose husband made his fortune in Nazi Germany.

Why? When the money is going to charity and holocaust research. 

Because nobody knows the former owners of jewellery its a splendid idea to give away for charity. No reason to interfere or even condemn. ????

They just can’t get over it, can they?

44 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

They just can’t get over it, can they?

Of course, particularly when survivors of the camps are still alive.

1 hour ago, AustinRacing said:

They just can’t get over it, can they?

Charming. 

4 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

Why? When the money is going to charity and holocaust research. 

The reasons are explained if you read the complete (BBC) article.

I want to point out the obvious because some people don't get the obvious.

 

Jews or really any group of people are not a monolith.

 

In this story you're hearing about some specific Jewish organizations having a problem with this sale with the reasons given. 

 

It does not follow that all or most Jews would feel the same way.

 

5 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

Why? When the money is going to charity and holocaust research. 

It's also going to finance a foundation created to safeguard the name of her lowlife husband.

And  it really doesn't address the issue of how much her fortune ultimately derived from those properties owned by Jews.

29 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I want to point out the obvious because some people don't get the obvious.

 

Jews or really any group of people are not a monolith.

 

In this story you're hearing about some specific Jewish organizations having a problem with this sale with the reasons given. 

 

It does not follow that all or most Jews would feel the same way.

 

Some people don't want to get the obvious. Because then they'd have to swallow their hate or find  another target for it.