Lot 697

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Description:

EYEWITNESS REPORT ON THE ARREST OF HEINRICH HIMMLER
A superb typed D.S. 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d. but certainly contemporary], a report of Himmler's arrest signed by British Sergeant Arthur Britton of the 45th Field Security Section who made out the arrest documents after a quick scrutiny of the false identity papers carried by Himmler and his party, and who realized that all three were in an automatic arrest category. In part: "...During the morning of 20 May 45 a group of Five German Officers and Seven other ranks were detained at the Bridge Control at BREMERVORDE 9444 and referred to the NCO's of 45 FD Section and 1003 FSRD for checking. At first the Germans denied being all in the same party, and one of them, a doctor, claimed that the OR's were in his care as walking patients. All the members of the party carried discharge papers issued since 1 May 45, and some of these papers were stamped G. F. P. Under Interrogation, and one of the OR's admitted that they were all in the same party...The party stated that they were policemen from MUNICH, and had received orders from the unit to report to the Polizei Presidium there. The party expressed concern about two other comrades whom they had been forced to leave behind at a farm, since they were sick. The FS NCO's offered to go and collect the missing members, and one of the German officers was taken along as a guide. They drove to the supposed resting place of the other two, but found no one...That evening the twelve G.F.P. men were despatched to WESTERTIMKE and a general warning was issued that two further members of the party may turn up in the area. At 2200 hrs 22 May a party of three German civilians were detained at the same Bridge Control...Their papers indicated that they were recently discharged from the German army, and the tell-tale G.F.P. SD7 stamp was again present. They were put under arrest by Sgt. BRITTON of the 45 FS Section. In interrogation it became clear that they were the rear guard of the G.F.P. and stated that they were en route for Munich. One of the second party was Sgt. Heinrich HIZINGER, an unimpressive figure with several days growth of beard, long hair, nonglasses and a patch over one eye. He was dressed in an odd collection of civilian clothes, with a blue raincoat on top. They were despatched to WESTERTIMKE thence to 031, and Heinrich HIMMLER'S arrest report was duly submitted...". Himmler was persona non grata at war's end because of his treachery in attempting to negotiate a peace with Great Britain and the U.S. that was broadcast on Apr. 28. Shocked, Hitler would soon declare Himmler a traitor along with Goring. Although he appealed to other members of his former party for help, in addition to turning to the Americans for leniency, no one wanted anything to do with him. Himmler evaded capture and wandered around Bavaria disguised as a sergeant in the Secret Police for a few days. Despite being equipped with a dossier of false identity papers and documents, he was arrested on May 22, 1945 after being driven by Britton to a prison camp, confessed his identity on May 23. Himmler committed suicide on May 23, 1945 biting down on a hidden cyanide capsule. Due to the military wording of the document, as well as the paper and ink aging, we believe this to be one of the original arrest reports prepared by Britton at very soon after Himmler's arrest. Fine.

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January 21, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

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