Lot 136

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Description:

(DIRLEWANGER BRIGADE)
ERICH BUCHMANN (1896-1972) SS-Obersturmfuhrer who, despite a debilitating heart defect, volunteered to command Waffen-SS Grenadier Regiment 72, one of the two regiments of the murderous Dirlewanger Brigade. On April 25, 1945, when a new commander attempted to reorganize the unit as the Soviets marched into German territory, Buchmann was the only member of his regiment left to report; the rest had deserted or been killed. Very rare T.L.S. ‘Ihr Erich Buchmann' 1p. legal folio, Munich, Oct. 13, 1938, to HANS KELZ (1899-?) a commander in the SS and who held a post on Himmler's staff from 1939 until the end of the war. Buchmann writes as an SS-Standartenfuhrer and explains how he found out that day that the personnel office does not yet have a record of his new private address in Munich, which he then provides. Sold with a T.L.S. by an unnamed official, 1p. legal folio, Konstanz, June 17, 1940, to Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler concerning a disciplinary case against Buchmann and forwarding minutes and transcripts (not present). Composed of criminals expected to die fighting in the front-line, the Dirlewanger Brigade was created by convicted rapist and embezzler Oskar Dirlewanger. It was originally formed for anti-partisan duties against the Polish resistance, but the unit eventually saw action in Slovakia, Hungary, and against the Soviet Red Army near the end of the war. During its operations, the unit (surely including Buchmann's troops) engaged in the rape, pillaging and mass murder of some 40,000 civilians. Despite this, Buchmann was never accused of any criminal activity, and lived openly after being released from post-war confinement. Marginal wear, file holes at left edge, light soiling, nonetheless boldly signed in green ink and very good. Two pieces.

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November 29, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, 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