Lot 896

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Description:

ERWIN ROMMEL
(1891 - 1944) German field marshal whose Afrika Corps threw back repeated British and American assaults in North Africa, later he defended Normandy and ultimately was forced to commit suicide due to his implication in the Hitler bomb plot. Very fine content war-date A.L.S. "Erwin", 2pp. 12mo. on his "Generalfeldmarshall" correspondence card, [n.p., undoubtedly Lake Garda, Italy], Oct. 13, 1943 in German to his wife, in pencil as was his habit. In part: "...Dearest Lu...No mail from you yet. Hope things will get moving over the summer. Was with Duce [Mussolini] yesterday. He is fresh, cheerful, and has great plans...". On July 25th, Mussolini was dismissed by King Victor Emmanuele III and arrested by the Carabinieri. Eventually shuffled off to Lake Garda, he was deposited as a reluctant guest of the Germans at Villa Feltrinelli on Lake Garda. It was here that Rommel met him. Rommel had moved his headquarters from Munich to Lake Garda as commander of a new Army Group B created to defend northern Italy. Without Mussolini's knowledge, Badoglio had negotiated an armistice with the Allies, and on the very date of this letter, Italy declared war on Germany. Mussolini's cheerfulness was no doubt due to a misplaced hope that Rommel's forces would crush the Allies and restore Il Duce to power. Very good.

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June 4, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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