Two Silver Cigarette Boxes "New Reich Chancellery" (Reichskanzlei), circa 1939

Two tabletop silver cigarette boxes, both made and hallmarked by the master silversmith "Wilhelm Binder" WTB, circa 1939.

Above the lids is the insignia of the Reich Chancellery (in German: Neue Reichskanzlei), which, through the logistics offices in charge, commissioned the two objects from the silversmith, probably not the only ones, just as it was common to also commission other producers different types of everyday objects, necessary for the functionality of an environment, making it practical, comfortable and elegant at the same time.

The existence of these two silver cigarette cases belonging to the Reichskanzlei is to be considered a true rarity, as despite all the supplies being marked or punched by the producers and bearing the Chancellery emblem with "R Aquila K" it was made up of objects mainly produced in Alpacca.

The two silver cigarette cases were most likely placed inside the executive offices of the Reich Chancellery.

The construction of the New Reich Chancellery building (German: Neue Reichskanzlei), in Berlin, was begun in January 1938 by the architect Albert Speer (1905-1981) at the behest of Adolf Hitler, around the corner of Voßstraße, a branch west of Wilhelmstraße, who ordered the building to be completed within a year. The führer stated that Bismarck's old Chancellery "was suitable for a soap company", but not suitable as the headquarters of the greater German Reich.

The new residence, built on the same site that Speer had helped to restore a few years earlier (finished in 1739 according to Carl Friedrich Richter's design), remained Hitler's official headquarters with the recently renovated rooms, including the floors, gathered in the complex called the Chief's apartment (Führerwohnung). The Old and New Chancellery were divided by the area of a vast garden with the underground bunker, a defensive military fortification (still existing) where the dictator lived the last days of his life in April 1945.

Speer claimed, in his autobiography, that he finished the required work, designing, building and furnishing the complex in just under a year. In fact, the preliminary versions of the drawings had already been developed in 1935. Preparing the space for the New Chancellery, composed of the buildings that would be built on the northern part of the Voßstraße, entailed the demolition of the old and unused pre-existing buildings which took place in 1937.

Hitler made the entire northern area of the aforementioned artery available, commissioning the architect to create a spacious hall and large halls that "had to impress the people". Speer had received, as compensation, a bad check - Hitler asserted that the cost of the work was immaterial - and he had been advised that the buildings had to be of solid structure and finished by the following month of January, in time to be able to receive the diplomatic corps.

More than 4000 workers worked on the reconstruction, alternating in the various phases in order to obtain a precise and satisfactory result. The immense construction was completed 48 hours before the scheduled time, and the project earned Speer the reputation of a brilliant organizer and the appointment, by Hitler, of the position of Minister for Armaments and War Production from 1942 to 1945. architect recruited the entire workforce: bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and other specialized workers were invited to ensure that the end of the work was safe and imminent. Hitler then directed the workers to the Sportpalast. Some internal finishes, however, were perfected only in 1940. The cost exceeded 90 million Reichmarks, over a billion in today's dollars.

The series of rooms began with the reception gallery, 145 meters long, much appreciated by Hitler and decorated with a precious variety of materials and colours. The führer's office was very large. The exterior of the Chancellery had a severe and intimidating appearance. The Court of Honor served as the main entrance and, on either side of the door, stood two bronze statues by the sculptor Arno Breker. The New Chancellery was destroyed by Soviet bombing during the Battle of Berlin in April 1945. What remained was demolished by order of the Russian occupation forces and the material used to construct the memorial in Treptower Park and other buildings.