Description:

(1905-1981) Nazi German architect and Minister of Armaments and War Production, convicted of war crimes at Nuremburg. ALBERT SPEER SECRETLY WRITES TO RUDOLF HESS FROM SPANDAU PRISON, PLANS TO REFUSE TO TESTIFY Excessively rare A.L.S. 'Albert S.', 1p. 4 x 5.75 in., Spandau Prison, 1960, a secret letter written to RUDOLF HESS when both men were imprisoned at the same prison. Written in German on toilet paper, Speer writes in full: 'Again to R: Some time ago I stated the possibilities about the refusal to testify. I will clarify this with an example: A letter was found in my cell. I will be summoned before the directorate. Questions: from whom, who knows about this, etc. Possible answer: 'I refuse to answer any question'. It is important for me to know if such a right exists in a normal, Western prison. I will then accept the threats with the punishment for a refusal to answer, since I know that I am in the right. Of course, no one can say what such a conception of rights would be here. I do not expect such a symbolic joy from you wise men - Klaus would probably say it best. The others would of course be interested about such information also.' Years later, Speer added a postscript in English: '...written secretly in Spandau 1960...' and gifting the note to his friend Henry Kahn - an American architect with German ancestry who formed a close relationship with Speer, writing him many letters and visiting his Heidelberg home on numerous occasions. One chip at top, two file holes, else fine. The letter is also sold with an unsigned and unnamed letter of provenance, certainly from Kahn himself, indicating the memento was '...given to me on our visit to Speer's home in Heidelberg on August 15, 1976...'. Speer's autobiography proves that he wrote numerous similar messages on prison toilet paper. One page (a scan of which is also included) bears a transcript of another letter he wrote, which asserts '...a prison employee has offered to smuggle letters out for me. Our toilet paper has since acquired unimaginable importance to me...What luck that no one thought of dying it black. I keep the sheets I have written in my shoes...' Finally, the lot is sold with an I.S.P. from Speer to Kahn's son Paul, 4.25 x 6 in. b/w, showing Speer in his later years and further proving his association to their family. An excessively rare note with incontestable provenance.

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May 22, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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