Description:

ADOLF HITLER TELEGRAM TO FIELD MARSHAL GERD VON RUNDSTEDT
Rare war-date typed telegram sent by Adolf Hitler to German Field Marshall GERD VON RUNDSTEDT (1875-1953) who led the blitzkrieg attack on France, seizing the country within two weeks, only to later be defeated by Allied forces in Normandy and in the desperate Battle of the Bulge. The document, 1p. 4to., [Berlin], Dec. 12, 1942, reads in full: 'To General Field Marshal von Rundstedt Commander-in-Chief (West) Dear Field Marshal, Please accept my warm good wishes on your birthday today. The past year in your life has placed particularly heavy demands on you and on the troops under your command. All tasks have been accomplished in exemplary fashion. I wish you health and strength for your highly responsible work during the forthcoming year. With the German greeting, Yours Adolf Hitler'. File holes and some edge wear, blank bottom receipting section detached, and a corner clipped, still very good. Early in the year, von Rundstedt had been recalled to France following the failure of Hitler's 'Hunger Plan' in the East, which resulted in mass starvation in Kiev and Kharkov. Although he was commander of the German Army in the west, the military governors in Paris and Brussels were not under his direct command, and he had no control over the Kriegsmarine or Luftwaffe. He also had no control over the SS and Gestapo operations in France. On 20 October French Communists assassinated the German commander in Nantes, Karl Hotz, triggering the execution of over 100 French hostages. As military governor, Stulpnagel directed the policy of executing hostages. Rundstedt had no direct control over the Army's response to Resistance attacks. Nevertheless, many held him responsible, then and later. In November 1942 the Allies invaded French North Africa (Operation Torch). When the Vichy authorities in Africa surrendered after token resistance, the Germans responded by occupying all of France and dissolving what remained of the French Army.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000