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| Coventry Blitz collection up for sale | Coventry Blitz collection up for sale |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A unique collection of items from the devastating bombing raid inflicted on Coventry by the Luftwaffe are to go under the hammer. | |
| Almost 570 people lost their lives and three-quarters of the city centre was destroyed during the 11-hour operation on 14 November 1940. | Almost 570 people lost their lives and three-quarters of the city centre was destroyed during the 11-hour operation on 14 November 1940. |
| Lots include German incendiary bomb fins, gas masks and a scrapbook of cuttings from the period. | Lots include German incendiary bomb fins, gas masks and a scrapbook of cuttings from the period. |
| The sale will take place at the Auction Centre in Etwall, Derbyshire. | The sale will take place at the Auction Centre in Etwall, Derbyshire. |
| Handling some of the remnants of that night was "remarkable", a spokesman for the auctioneers said. | Handling some of the remnants of that night was "remarkable", a spokesman for the auctioneers said. |
| More on this story and others on Coventry and Warwickshire | More on this story and others on Coventry and Warwickshire |
| Also included in the collection are parts of a former tramway that ran in Coventry before the bombing raid stopped the service. | Also included in the collection are parts of a former tramway that ran in Coventry before the bombing raid stopped the service. |
| A Luftwaffe aerial map from the year before the raid, showing the city's Daimler works outlined in red, already marked for destruction is also for sale. | A Luftwaffe aerial map from the year before the raid, showing the city's Daimler works outlined in red, already marked for destruction is also for sale. |
| "The collection would rival that of any archive held by institutions, local or national," said Adrian Stevenson, militeria expert for Hanson Auctioneers, who has organised the sale. | "The collection would rival that of any archive held by institutions, local or national," said Adrian Stevenson, militeria expert for Hanson Auctioneers, who has organised the sale. |
| The archive was put together about 1940-41, after the Germans targeted the major manufacturing city, largely destroying its mediaeval centre. | The archive was put together about 1940-41, after the Germans targeted the major manufacturing city, largely destroying its mediaeval centre. |
| Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "Perhaps a local museum may acquire the archive for future record. | Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "Perhaps a local museum may acquire the archive for future record. |
| "The collection is certainly going to attract interest from militaria collectors, and we hope the collection, which is being split into approximately six lots, will realise up to £2,000.' | "The collection is certainly going to attract interest from militaria collectors, and we hope the collection, which is being split into approximately six lots, will realise up to £2,000.' |
| Earlier this month, about 1,000 people took part in a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on the city. | Earlier this month, about 1,000 people took part in a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on the city. |
| A chain of people passed a light to each other, finishing at Coventry Cathedral. | A chain of people passed a light to each other, finishing at Coventry Cathedral. |