Description:

(1890 - 1946) Hitler's Chief of Operations who signed the act of military surrender, tried at Nuremberg for war crimes and executed. Important content late war T.L.S., 1p. large 4to., 'Fuhrer Headquarters', June 30, 1944, to an unnamed Kriegsmarine admiral in which Jodl mentions the proposed use of (near) suicide weapons by the Germans, and comparing their use to the same means employed by the Japanese. In part: '...I would like to thank you very much for your proposal for our warfare in the west. Like you, the Supreme Leadership is of the opinion that, in our present situation, the utmost effort is required to repel the strong threat from the invasion area in the west. With regard to your proposal, I would like to inform you, with the request that it be treated confidentially, that the development of special weapons, both at sea and from the air, has now progressed so far that the first successful operations have already been carried out. Even if the use of these means differs somewhat from the total use of the Japanese, the chance of staying alive is slim. The number of young German men who enthusiastically volunteer to use these weapons is completely sufficient, so that there is no need to use volunteers of your age, Mr. Admiral...' Folds, a small toned spot in a blank area, and some light soiling, else very good. Three weeks after the D-Day landings, the Allies were still struggling to make any very substantial gains. The Cotentin and Cherbourg had been taken, but Caen and Saint-Lo were still to be dealt with and the situation was becoming desperate. Jodl was certainly referring to such near-suicidal weapons Bachem Ba 349, Fliegende Panzerfaust, Sombold So 344, Zeppelin Rammer, and the Blohm & Voss BV 40 developed by the Luftwaffe, and the various 'human torpedo' weapons similar to the Japanese 'kaiten'.

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May 22, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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