An influencer has shared her shock after finding artefacts from the Holocaust being sold on eBay.
Chelsey Brown, 28, from New York, finds diaries, letters, and family heirlooms and reunites them with the descendants of those behind them.
While trawling eBay recently for such items, she was horrified to find a listing for “Holocaust collectibles” – which appears to show various items up for auction at a starting bid of $4,950 (USD).
A search for “Holocaust collectibles” on eBay today (5 April) shows dozens of items for sale – from photographs and train tickets to correspondence between family members.
One item is listed as “Holocaust 18 Red Cross letters parents in Budapest Son in Jerusalem 1941-1944” for $600.
In 2013, eBay apologised and removed around 30 items of memorabilia from the Holocaust that were for sale after an investigation.
Chelsey believes the site have failed to maintain standards around the selling of such items.
“They are profiting off of the torture and pain of these victims,” Chelsey told Jam Press.
“Holocaust artefacts and documentation is something I am beyond passionate about, especially when it comes to heirloom returns.
“Unfortunately, Holocaust artifacts are sold for ridiculous prices, are auctioned for thousands of dollars, or sold underground. It’s something not many people discuss – but it’s a real problem in the world of family artifacts.
“Sometimes, I’ll use eBay to find old letters or photo albums, and I saw an ad for a Holocaust letter pop up – this was back in September. That’s when I deep-dived into the horrific world of how Holocaust documentation is sold.
“I had someone message me on IG just the other day that they saw their grandmother’s holocaust diary on eBay, and the seller would not go lower on price so she could have that item back. It sold to someone else.
“The Holocaust did not happen that long ago and people forget their survivors still live to this day. These items belong with their rightful families – and not being sold for profit.
“The Holocaust trade is a sick one – and people are buying these items to keep in their ‘collections’.”
Chelsey shared a post on Instagram, @citychicdecor, with her 92,000 followers, criticising the sale.
She said: “Items end up at flea markets and in resellers hands for two main reasons. 1. Family drama: someone gets access to an estate and doesn’t give the items to the rest of the family.
“And 2. many items were lost after WWII as many families moved around the country. Items were lost during those moves and continue to circulate to this day.
“These artifacts should go back to the families first, and if that’s not an option, then to historians or a museum. But always the family first.
“eBay should be ashamed for not only letting sellers profit off of the torture of these victims, but for them to profit off it as well.”
The post was liked more than 7,000 times, with Chelsey’s followers sharing their outrage.
One person commented: “This should be illegal – having artifacts from someone’s family when they have family members still alive that want them and profiting off it, is sick.”
“This is devastating I have no words for people would sell Holocaust materials,” another user said.
Someone else added: “Ugh that’s terrible.”
“What!? That’s despicable,” agreed another person.
Another viewer commented: “Omg that’s so awful I was unaware.” [sic]
In response to Chelsey, eBay said: “eBay generally does not prohibit historical documents, including letters and postcards. In response to Ms. Brown’s correspondence, we are reviewing our policy to update the relevant sections to clarify what is prohibited.”
Jam Press has contacted eBay for comment.
