The San Jose-based eBay previously had discontinued auctions involving recent hate-filled memorabilia, with the exception of items more than 50 years old that it deemed "historical."

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which had lobbied for the policy change for two years, welcomed the decision, noting that eBay had become the largest retailer of Nazi material online — much of which is believed to be fake.

"Because eBay charges for auction listings and gets a cut of successful sales, it is morally responsible for what is available on its massive site," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Wiesenthal Center's associate dean.

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