Lot 7
ARCHIVE OF COL. JACOB C. WUEST - MILITARY ATTACHE TO BERLIN, 1932-1935
A large, fine archive of letters, calling cards and ephemera largely outlining the diplomatic career of the American military attaché in Berlin, Jacob C. Wuest. JACOB C. WUEST (1903-1977) served as the American military attaché in the embassy in Berlin from 1932 until mid-1935, later remaining in the Army stateside. Wuest was an experienced observer, and as early as May, 1934 warned of Germany's close association with Japan and the likelihood of an alliance. The inept American ambassador William Dodd had little patience with what he considered Wuest's overreactions to German rearmament. In October 1934, Dodd confided to his diary that Wuest predicted imminent war. The attaché had just returned from a motor trip around Germany in which he saw extensive military activity. Dodd dismissed Wuest's warning because the attaché "was not specific and I had little time to listen" and Wuest was ultimately dismissed. Included in this archive are dozens of letters, calling cards, photographs and ephemera from Wuest's career. Wuest kept two albums which include letters from WOLFGANG GRONAU (1893-1977), pilot, made first east to west transatlantic crossing, two letters thanking Wuest for making his flight possible, etc.; J. BUTLER WRIGHT, Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, letter of congratulations, along with letters from the ambassadors to Switzerland and the Netherlands, WILLIAM E. DODD (1905-1952) 1934 letter of congratulations written as Ambassador, with calling card; HUGH R. WILSON (1885-1946) Ambassador to Switzerland and in 1938 to Germany, 1935 letter on Disarmament Conference letterhead, hopes to meet; LUDWIG BECK (1880-1945) Chief of the General Staff who joined the resistance, was implicated in the July, 1944 bomb plot, and was executed in his office after two suicide attempts, 1935 T.L.S. on his letterhead welcoming Wuest, with calling card; WERNER VON FRITSCH (1880-1939) Commander in Chief of the German Army, 1934 letter of congratulations and calling card; Luftwaffe Gen. GERD VON MASSOW (1896-1967), S.P. 7" x 9" in uniform, with calling card; WILHELM SPEIDEL (1895-1970) Luftwaffe general and military governor of Greece, convicted in the murder of hostages and sent to prison for 20 years - serving only two, A.L.S. on his letterhead, 1938, denies that the Germans want war despite their build-up; plus two additional post-war T.L.S.s, friendly content; HENRY H. "HAP" ARNOLD, 1935 T.L.S. discusses Wuest's military appointment and a 1939 T.L.S., routine content; GEORGE C. MARSHALL, 1939 T.L.S., thanks for his congratulations and recalling their service in the Philippines; a letter of introduction and a second 1932 letter by Gen. ALEXANDER VON KLUCK (1846-1934); typed lists of the top staff at the German War Ministry and other VIPs; RALPH WENNINGER (1890-1945) Luftwaffe general who also sank 97 ships in the prior war, 1934 letter; BARTON K. YOUNT 1943 letter concerning Wuest's retirement; and ALFRED JANSA, signature; Also present are nearly 100 calling cards of German military and political figures, foreign ambassadors and envoys, royalty, and other important figures. They include Gen. Wilhelm Adam, Erich von Keiser, Hans Georg von Seidel, Walther von Reichenau, Hans von Seekt, Otto Gross, Werner von Blomberg, Hans von Tschammer und Osten, Kurt von Schleicher (killed in Roehm putsch), Fritz Thiele (July 20 conspirator, executed), Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, Konstantin von Neurath, Franz von Papen, Edmund Heines (Roehm's lover, executed), Waclaw Grzybowski, Jacob Suritz, Charles Bewley, and many others. Also included: a typed list "Information on Police"; two contemporary typed transcripts describing Hindenburg's funeral, as well as a German military newspaper on the event; invitations to the White House; copy of Wuest's interwar report on the German military system; and about fifty additional letters, clippings, carbons, photos, postcards, etc., almost all concerning his service in Berlin. Overall very good to fine.
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