Stolen Hitler bookmark recovered

SEATTLE, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Federal authorities in Seattle say they've recovered a gold bookmark once owned by World War II German Nazi despot Adolf Hitler.

The bookmark, given to Hitler by his mistress, Eva Braun, had been stolen from an auction house in Madrid, Spain, in 2002.

The U.S. attorney's office said Christian Popescu, 37, of Kenmore, Wash., was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle with sale or receipt of stolen goods. Popescu was arrested late Tuesday after allegedly setting up a deal to sell the 18-carat gold bookmark.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

The bookmark, given to Hitler by Braun after the Russians defeated the Germans in the battle of Stalingrad in 1943, was inscribed "My Adolf, don't worry ... (the defeat) ... was only an inconvenience that will not break your certainty of victory."