Writing from a address at No. 16 Dalagatan, in Stockholm, Sweden ("phone and fax (468) 335186"), journalist Israel Shamir contacted David Irving by e-mail on June 17, 1998 with this tempting offer:

I am a Moscow-based journalist, a member of the British NU Journalists and an ex-BBC man. Now I received a request from my colleagues in Russia to sell as soon as possible a vast amount of the Third Reich archive material. Theirs (and mine) interest is purely commercial. I wonder whether you would be able to arrange the sale or alternatively to advise me whom I may contact. I presume you are familiar with some or all of the documents. I understand my colleagues tried to negotiate the sale themselves but could not proceed with the required speed. Here is the list of offered documents:

1. Service diary of Himmler from 28.1.41 till 30.12.42 total amount 569 pages, some of them signed by Himmler, other signed by his adjutant.

Example of entry

17 May 1942

11.30 Dutch SS swearing-in
14.30 Lunch at Reichsminister Seyß-Inquart
20.0 Dinner at Gruppenführer Rauter etc

[Comment by David Irving: I already have a complete photocopy of this]

2. Service diaries of Hans Frank - 4915 pages, with Index, from 1939 till 1944.

3. Personal and business correspondence of Himmler and his wife from 1935 till 1940 with Martin Bormann, Karl Wolff, Dr Rudi Brandt, Hermann Goering, with parents, relatives, friends. It is a family archive including letters, invitations, greetings etc. Total amount 405 pages.

Examples letter of Marga H[immler] to Canaris, poem by von Schirach, letter of H[immler] to his parents, letter of W B Yates with thanks to Hitler and Himmler, etc.

4. Personal correspondence of Erich Ludendorf and Walter Nikolai 1919- 1923 and 1935-1937, app. 100 pages.

5. Letters to and by Reichskanzler Josef Wirt 1919-1940.

6. Letters, photos, archives of Gruppenführer Ernst Lotar Reich 1934-1945.

7. Exchange of letters between Walter Nikolai and Rudolf Hess 1920-1930s.

8. Correspondence of Hermann Rauschning with Otto Strasser, Brüning etc.

9. Archive of Paul Ravou, the French journalist and spy, stationed in Berlin in 1933-1937. His correspondence, articles, reports to the Second Bureau.

10. Correspondence of Simon Leo, owner of Pomeranian steel plant Dubbel Werke with the Zionist Leaders, from Weitzmann to Ben Gurion.

11. Archive of an important Zionist Siegfried Talheimer.

12. Exchange of letters between Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich regarding the Historical Comission of the Reichsführer.

13. Archive of von Papen including letters to and from Hitler, Goering, Hess, as well as personal letters.

14. Russian translation of Martin Bormann's diary from 1.1.45 till 1.5.45, done for Stalin and Beria.

[Comment by David Irving: Lev Besymenski published the original German text of this many years ago.]

Please reply as soon as you can to indicate your interest or the lack of it.

Truly yours

I. Shamir

For the next two weeks I could be reached in Israel on phone and fax (9723) 50844911 or mobile phone (97250) 616775 or E-mail [email protected]

It was a tempting proposition. David Irving responded that same day:

Dear Mr Shamir

I deeply appreciate your contacting me, and I am as you will also appreciate interested in securing either (a) access to or (b) ownership of some of those materials. Some of it is known to me (the Himmler service diary is in a photocopy in my possession). Let me nose around for a few days and get back to you. You can e-mail me here in Florida at [email protected], or (after mid August) in London via my mail e-mail address [email protected].

Your friends may for instance choose to rent to me copies of some of the stuff, so they can sell the originals either via me or elsewhere.

Yours sincerely,

David Irving

On June 21, Shamir informed Irving:

The documents are already in the hands of my collegues. The idea of a web-based ad on your site is acceptable in general, but whether it would generate response of persons with means and interest to big amounts of raw material - remains to be seen. As long as the ad does not contain any reference to Russia, I think it is all right, but I'll check and confirm.

As to the rent of the letters - I'll try to convince my collegues to do it, but meanwhile they are hell-bend on quick sale. Maybe a buyer would not object to your exclusive scientific use of the material? As you will be instrumental in the deal, it does not sound unreasonable and it will save you five thousand quid. I'll try to get soonest few scanned images pertaining to the stuff. What would be your assessment of the price range of the offered items?

Your I Shamir

That day, on June 21, David Irving sent to Shamir this response:

Historians will probably only be interested in those files narrowly of concern to their own topic. Big militaria collectors (and there are some, and I am going to approach them in the next two or three days by e-mail and mail) may well be able to purchase larger sets of the documents or even all of them. You will find on my Website the advertising I made for the Heydrich photos. This has generated responses from around the world in the seven days since I posted it. Admittedly, that seller is in no hurry.

As for price, a comparable set of papers is the 60 letters from Himmler to his mistress, 150 pages. For those handwritten items I would expect the buyer to pay over $100,000. There is a difference: the seller of those letters has clean title to them, and there is no risk of ownership problems.

Your sellers are obtaining the documents less legally, in my view, and any buyer must anticipate major problems from the German or Russian governments. Of course, your sellers may have obtained them legally, in which case the above does not apply. (I.e. your sellers may be the original Russian archives or government agencies themselves).

It is difficult for me to assess the value without seeing even samples. But a very broad range of figures, with some explanations, might be:

1. $20,000 (low figure, because already widely circulated. I have a copy already).

2. $50-100,000 (provided they are not identical with those already published by the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich. If they are identical, then again, more like $20,000).

3. $50-100,000 depending on content: (how many to wife, how many to others, etc).

4. $10,000 (mainly curiosity value). (But CIA or BND might offer more, because of Nikolai's historic importance. Few of his records survive).

5. Can't estimate, as no idea how many.

6. Depends on content: who is in the photos, any valuable autographs?

7. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. But see No. 4. above.

8. Can't estimate, same reason. Perhaps $10,000-15,000.

9. See answer to No. 4.

10. Of interest mainly to Zionist archives. Have you approached the Chaim Weizmann archives at Rehovot in Israel? They will surely offer you the best price for such collections.

11. See answer to No. 10.

12. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. The autograph value (as opposed to historical-content value) is however potentially very high.

13. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. Again, the autograph value (as opposed to historical-content value) is potentially very high.

14. Unless this Russian document has interesting autographs (Stalin, Beria), it is of relative low sale price, since the German original has been published by Lev Besymenski many years ago.

David Irving

Simultaneously, however, David Irving also notified the German government archival authorities by e-mail of what was going on:

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr Lenz

Von dem Herren, der die bekannten Archivalien aus den ehem. sowjetischen Beständen anbietet, hörte ich heute morgen wie folgt:-

Dear Dr Irving, I received indeed the second e-mail containing the words "5000". The documents are already in the hands of my collegues. The idea of a web-based ad on your site is acceptable in general, but whether it would generate response of persons with means and interest to big amounts of raw material - remains to be seen. As long as the ad does not contain any reference to Russia, I think it is all right, but I'll check and confirm. As to the rent of the letters - I'll try to convince my collegues to do it, but meanwhile they are hell-bent on quick sale. Maybe a buyer would not object to your exclusive scientific use of the material? As you will be instrumental in the deal, it does not sound unreasonable and it will save you five thousand quid. I'll try to get soonest few scanned images pertaining to the stuff. What would be your assessment of the price range of the offered items? [gez. Unterschrift]

Meine Antwort lautete (Anfang): --

Historians will probably only be interested in those files narrowly of concern to their own topic. Big militaria collectors (and there are some, and I am going to approach them in the next two or three days by e-mail and mail) may well be able to purchase larger sets of the documents or even all of them. You will find on my Website the advertising I made for the Heydrich photos. This has generated responses from around the world in the seven days since I posted it. Admittedly, that seller is in no hurry. As for price, a comparable set of papers is the 60 letters from Himmler to his mistress, 150 pages. For those handwritten items I would expect the buyer to pay over $100,000. There is a difference: the seller of those letters has clean title to them, and there is no risk of ownership problems. Your sellers are obtaining the documents less legally, in my view, and any buyer must anticipate major problems from the German or Russian governments. Of course, your sellers may have obtained them legally, in which case the above does not apply. (I.e. your sellers may be the original Russian archives or government agencies themselves).

It is difficult for me to assess the value without seeing even samples. But a very broad range of figures, with some explanations, might be: 1. $20,000 (low figure, because already widely circulated. I have a copy already). 2. $50-100,000 (provided they are not identical with those already published by the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich. If they are identical, then again, more like $20,000). 3. $50-100,000 depending on content: (how many to wife, how many to others, etc). 4. $10,000 (mainly curiosity value). (But CIA or BND might offer more, because of Nikolai's historic importance. Few of his records survive). 5. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. 6. Depends on content: who is in the photos, any valuable autographs? 7. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. But see No. 4. above. 8. Can't estimate, same reason. Perhaps $10,000-15,000. 9. See answer to No. 4. 10. Of interest mainly to Zionist archives. Have you approached the Chaim Weizmann archives at Rehovot in Israel? They will surely offer you the best price for such collections. 11. See answer to No. 10. 12. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. The autograph value (as opposed to historical-content value) is however potentially very high. 13. Can't estimate, as no idea how many. Again, the autograph value (as opposed to historical-content value) is potentially very high. 14. Unless this Russian document has interesting autographs (Stalin, Beria), it is of relative low sale price, since the German original has been published by Lev Besymenski many years ago."

Ende meiner Antwort an den Herren. Ich halte Sie auf dem Laufenden, denn ich bemühe mich darum, daß alles möglichst auf legalen Wegen geregelt wird.

I received the reply of my collegues in Moscow regarding rent of documents. I was mistaken - they are pleased to rent and supply copies of the documents as well. Regarding your offer re letters of H to his wife in item 3 and exchange of letters between H and Heydrich, item 12, it appears that in item 3 there are no letters of H to his wife, but various letters by H and his wife to other persons and from other persons to them, regarding mortgage, congratulations etc.

Item 12 consists of 251 pages and it covers the correspondence from April 5, 1938 until Januar 25, 1939. My colleagues are ready to provide you on exclusive basis the full set of item 12 for five thousand pounds, immediate delivery.

After this change of heart if you wish some other copies you are welcome.

Please answer this letter to my address [email protected]

your I. Shamir

So the letters between Himmler and his wife and mysteriously vanished from the bargain. Mr Irving informed Shamir, June 26:

Thank you for your information. This does substantially change the character of the items in Item 3, and I want a few days to think about it.

David Irving

On June 30, Israel Shamir spelt out precisely what was in the Himmler dossier:

This is the list of contents of the Item 3 - and pls forgive my spelling - it is a reversed translation from the Russian description. Total volume - 405 lists, some typewritten and some handwritten. - Letter from von Schmidt, SS Reichsfurer's adjutant to Marga H reminding of her forthcoming visits to Hitlerjugend, to the car show and to General Keitel of 13.2.1939. - Letter to H from the insurance co German Ring of 2.10.39. - Letter of Marga H to Admiral Canaris - poem by Baldur von Schirach - Invitation for a tea party by Emma Goering to Marga H - letter of Himmler to his parents 14.08.1936 - letter from Anna H from Munich 4.37 as a responce to H's letter of 4.2.37 - H's order to General K. Wolff to transmit monthly to Herr A to Leningrad 10-20DM dated 14.6.35 - Communication of Wolff containing Hitler's signed drawing for the Austrian satiric comic strip, 19.10.35. - Affidavit of SS school in Wewelsburg regarding dates of birth and marriage of H's mother. - Letter to H from his Doctor K. Varenkamp from Stuttgart 29.11.38 containing cardiogram and the illness of Himmler's description. - Letter by William Yetts, the Irish poet,to Kranefuss with thanks to Fuhrer and Himmler for their hospitality with descriptions of Germany 14.11.38 - Questionaire with Himmler's answers regarding his military career 2.10.36. - Himmler's biography until his nomination on 20.01.34 Ministr of Agriculture. - Tax declaration by H 14.10.40 - Letter to Sturmbannfurer SS Rudi Brandt 4.9.40 notifying that H regularly transmits 100DM to the account of Lebensborn. - Letter by dentist Dr Hugo Blaschke to H 4.7.38 regarding his teeth. - H's response to Munich stating that he joined German Fascist Student Union 10.1.38. - Letter by H to Goering on Four Year Plan of transformation of German economy 17.2.38. - Letter by head of NSDAP fraction in Reichstag Frick to Himmler regarding Winter Aid contribution with H's notes on it. - Himmlers office affidavit stating full amount of tax paid by H. 16.4.37. - Explanation 13.5.37 on the Order of participants of the events of 1923. - Seating of guests incl. diplomats from USA, Sweden, Ireland at H's dinner. - Project of questionnaire with race questions by Head of race authority of SS Walter Darré 19.1.34 with H's remarks 21.3.34 - Project to place an SS monument on Ingolstadter str in Munich and proposed texts. - Himmler's explanation of meaning of ring for the newcomers to SS. - Directive of H to all SS members to have more children, 13.12.34 - Himmler's confirmed SS oath text. - Letter to Martin Bormann connected with his purchase of a villa 12.2.37. - Letter of H to Wolf regarding rent of the villa 15.6.35. - Letter to M Himmler re purchase of a house 18.6.34.

That's it! your Shamir

Mr Irving made no response. On July 5 Shamir e-mailed to him:

Any news? Are you still on? I.Shamir

Our opinion

DAVID IRVING had however decided to negotiate no further with Mr Shamir. The cache of documents was suspect; its composition seemed too changeable. That the documents were being dishonestly procured seemed quite evident. "Documents like that," said Mr Irving, "belong safe in government archives, and nowhere else."

Shamir made one more approach - a phone call to him in London, a day or two before the end of August, saying that he was just leaving for Moscow. Mr Irving wished him well. On September 1, the news was leaked by others, probably Shamir himself, to the British press:-

Russians invite e-mail bids for lost Nazi archive

Philip Knightley

A SECRET archive of Nazi documents, which its sellers claim was seized by Red Army commandos in Berlin in the last days of the Second World War, is being offered for sale in the West.

Such an archive, said to be of about one million pages, could cast new light on the war and events leading up to it. It is said to include not only Nazi files but French papers seized by the Gestapo when Paris fell and then taken to Berlin. The Red Army, it is claimed, sent the documents packed in steel trunks to Moscow by train and from there they were dispersed for safe-keeping to other Soviet cities and towns.

Israel Shamir, a Moscow journalist who is acting for the sale of the documents, said:

"They were stacked in government rooms in any old order, the doors were locked and then just about everybody forgot about them. The only sign that anyone bothered to read any of them is a few handwritten notes on some pages made by the head of Stalin's secret service, Lavrenti Beria."

When Gorbachev liberalised the Soviet regime in the late 1980s, Moscow announced that the Nazi archive would be accessible to scholars and historians, but nothing happened.

No one knew where all the trunks were or what they contained.

No historian had the time or money to find out.

Last year a group of Russian entrepreneurs formed a private company and proposed to the Russian Government that it should catalogue the Nazi documents at its own expense in return for the right to exploit their contents. It claims that it has been slowly carrying out that work and that it has now decided to market the archive.

Mr Shamir said that since there could be disputes over the legal ownership of the archive, the Russian company had, for the moment, decided to sell only copies. The list of the contents of the archive that the company has given him is said to include:

• The diaries from January 1 to May 1, 1945, of Martin Bormann, Hitler's chief associate, which presumably document the Nazi leaders' last days in the Berlin bunker.
• The personal papers of Heinrich Himmler, the SS chief. Among them is a letter from the Irish poet and Nobel prizewinner W.B. Yeats, written after his visit to Germany in 1938, saying how impressed he was with Nazi Germany.
• Hundreds of letters exchanged between General Erich Ludendorff, Chief of the German General Staff in the First World War. and Walter Nicolai, head of the German Secret Service, 1919-23.
• Correspondence between Nicolai and Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess, 1920-39.
• The personal archive of Franz von Papen, the politician who helped Hitler to become Chancellor of Germany. This includes letters between Von Papen and Hitler, Himmler and Hess.
• The original manuscripts of some of Bertolt Brecht's plays.
• Files from the French secret service, the Deuxième Bureau, revealing that Paul Ravout, a journalist who was head of Havas, the French news agency in Berlin during 1933-37, was actually a French spy.

Mr Shamir says he is not authorised to disclose who is behind the company and all negotiations with possible in the West have so far conducted by e-mail: [email protected].

"The company has no address," Mr Shamir said. "It lives in cyberspace."