Description:

ADOLF HITLER REORGANIZES HIS LIEBSTANDARTE 'ADOLF HITLER'
An important collection of war-date documents in which Adolf Hitler reorganizes and reinforces the Liebstandarte - Adolf Hitler, his personal bodyguard unit - into a more effective fighting unit at brigade strength, this only one week before the start of the Battle of Britain. Included is: ADOLF HITLER, a typed D.S. on his rare 'Der Fuhrer und Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht' letterhead, 1p. 4to., 'Fuhrer Headquarters', Aug. 8, 1940, this signed copy sent to Reichsfuhrer-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER and with his personal staff receiving stamp at bottom. In full: '...In consideration of the special tasks devolving on the SS Liebstadarte 'Adolf Hitler', I am ordering the definitive organization of it shown in the enclosure. The necessary additional establishments have to be effected in such a way as to be completed, if possible, by 20th September, 1940. The Luftwaffe will arrange the provision of weapons and equipment for the 8.8 cm A.A. battery, (18th A.A. Bty) and for the 3.7 cm. A.A. troop in the heavy companies of the battalion; the Heer will provide the remaining additional force. The current units of the regiment are to be used for the new establishments....' Hitler's letter further notes that copies of his order have also been sent to the Army High Command and the Luftwaffe. File holes and some marginal flaws, else fine. Also present is the 'enclosure' Hitler speaks of, the proposed new organization of the regiment, 1p. 4to., headed 'SS Adolf Hitler' and setting forth using the appropriate military symbols. This original photocopy is accompanied by a transmittal letter from RUDOLF BRANDT (1909-1948), personal assistant to Heinrich Himmler, condemned to death at Nuremberg for human experiments and killings of prisoners in German concentration camps, including supplying 86 skeletons of Jews to a German anatomist. Brandt, who initials his letter, writes to SS-Brigadefuhrer, Head of the SS's Main Leadership Office sending regimental organization: '...as ordered by the Fuhrer...' Finally, there is a related fine content T.L.S. from MAX WUNSCHE (1914-1995), Waffen-SS Obersturmbannfuhrer, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipient, adjutant to Sepp Dietrich, platoon leader in SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, and a member of Hitler's personal body guard unit. He writes on the letterhead of Hitler's Adjutant's Office, 2pp., 4to., Obersalzburg, Aug. 31, 1940, reporting to Reichsfuhrer-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER. In part: '...In accordance with instructions, I gave to the Fuhrer today the papers on the strengthening of the SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler, and mentioned to him on this occasion that, owing to its reinforcement, the construction of a new barracks became necessary. The Fuhrer was in agreement with the proposal to leave the reconnaissance unit and the anti-tank unit in its present barracks...and to provide a new barracks for the infantry regiment, plus attached units, on the main north-south highway, as well as a new building on the national Stettin motorway for the artillery regiment, plus the engineer battalion, as well as for the divisional units. Prof. [Albert] Speer, as Inspector-General of buildings, has been charged with the execution of the construction work. In order to be able to lay the plans before the Fuhrer as soon as possible...I have reminded the Fuhrer again about the transfer of a 'Death's Head' regiment from the Reich to Denmark...On the Fuhrer's orders, the two servants: Hauptscharfuhrer Wiebiczeck [and] Oberscharfuhrer Sander have been today dismissed from their duties, and put in the Dachau concentration camp. Wiebiczeck and Sander have taken have taken advantage of the trust placed in them by the household, and thus by the Fuhrer, and have been guilty of theft. The Fuhrer has not, for the moment, expressed himself on the duration of their imprisonment in the concentration camp. The Fuhrer has ordered that that both are to be dismissed from the SS...' File holes, else very good. By August 19th, the LSSAH had raised an artillery regiment, a pioneer battalion, a signals company and a reconnaissance detachment. A month before Hitler's order, its strength was only 3,700 men. By the end of June, 1941 the LSSAH could muster 10,796 fighting soldiers. A most important historic grouping.

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April 25, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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