Description:

A substantial grouping of handwritten training notes, records, documents and several photos once belonging to SS-Unterscharfuhrer Gunther Edmund Fritz Rosenthal, a farmer whom it appears joined the SS in 1940 and later apparently served in Lodz and for a while at Auschwitz concentration camp. Included in the grouping is three substantial notebooks filled with Rosenthal's handwritten notes, apparently written during his training with the SS. There are about 100pp. of notes in total, with content and sketches untranslated but some concerning rifle and pistol shooting techniques, artillery and PAK use, mortars, trajectories, maneuvers, tactics, and much more. Also present: several addition pages of notes, a list of his comrades in '2 Gruppe', led by 'SS Mann Vogel' and indicating that Rosenthal was the senior member; the soldier's 'ahnenpass', or family history going back five generations; his NSDAP 'Lierderbuch', printed patriotic songs; a 1940 date book, only a few untranslated entries; a 'Blut und Boden' stammbuch, in blank; and three 2 x 3 in. photos, one showing Rosenthal in uniform, the others showing SS cavalry at an exhibition, and a barn in the country. These photos were contained in an envelope from a photographer in Posen. Most interesting is two pages of handwritten notes on the letterhead of 'Henryk Mandeltort S'cy', a Jewish-owned factory located in Lodz, Poland. The text is difficult to decipher, but is headed: 'Readiness for attack...within a group...reconnaissance found that the enemy is on retreat...during the retreat the enemy holed up in Rzgow[?] village...The sixth company on the march from Litzmannstadt...the first unit is coming from the left...' This could be Rosenthal's personal recollection, or a recounting an exercise. Finally, at some point Rosenthal is moved south as an envelope from another photo studio in Posen is addressed to him as: 'SS Usch. Rosental K.L. Auschwitz O/S 9. Komp. Postfach 2' placing Rosenthal at the notorious death camp. Overall very good condition.

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August 24, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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