Hitler’s Personal Copy of Mein Kampf Sells for Over $20,000

Adolf Hitler’s personal copy of Mein Kampf sold for $20,655 at an auction Friday.

The book was sold at Alexander Historical Auctions in Chesapeake City in an auction of more than a thousand other World War II items, WMAR, an ABC affiliate, reports. There were more than 10 active bidders for the item, according to the network.

The book, which was Hitler’s autobiography and blueprint for Nazi Germany, was found by American soldiers in 1945, according to WMAR. Eleven of them signed the book at the time to document its authenticity: “From Adolph Hitler’s apartment in Munich on May 2, 1945.” Since then it has been kept by a soldier’s daughter.

Bill Panagopulos, owner and auctioneer of Alexander Historical Auctions, LLC, told ABC he understands the controversy around the item, but that’s not a reason to get rid of it. “Why is it important to preserve history?” he said. “The good and the bad, so that we don’t repeat the sins of the past. It’s important that we have them and keep them in front of us.”