Nazi cutlery made for Adolf Hitler's birthday to be sold at auction

A set of cutlery made for Adolf Hitler’s 50^th birthday will be sold at auction after it was discovered in a house in Dorset.

The silverware – two knives, three spoons and three forks adorned with the swastika, the Nazi eagle and Hitler’s initials – were created for the Nazi leader’s use in formal dining occasions.

They were found during a house clearance in the south west of England, having belonged to a senior military officer.

They will be auctioned on Friday afternoon at the Charterhouse Auctioneers in Sherborne, Dorset, where they are expected to fetch more than £2,000.

An official at Charterhouse Auctioneers said the items "were not to everyone's taste".

It is not illegal to sell Nazi memorabilia, although some have questioned whether it is ethical to do so.