Description:

FRANZ HALDER
(1884 -1972) (1884 -1972) One-time German chief of staff until transferred to the reserves by Hitler due to policy disputes. Suspected of plotting against Hitler''s life in 1944, he was interned at Flossenburg until his rescue by the Allies. Superb content T.L.S., 5pp. 4to., Koenigstein, June 26, 1953, to Dr. Charles B. Burdick. Halder shares a variety of insights regarding Hitler''s intentions for conquering Europe, based on his knowledge of Hitler as a person. In part: "...What [Hitler] said, is not by far to be viewed as his actual opinion and intention... very often his statements served to conceal his true thoughts... The military occupation of the Rhineland - on April 4th, 1936 - was a political act that was supposed to demonstrate that Hitler did not want to commit himself to the limitations of the Treaty of Versailles anymore... [it was carried out]... against the advice of the responsible military experts... The occupation of the ''demilitarized zone''... has been gradually strengthened... but only to the extent where Germany''s Western neighbors could not see a threat to their security... [yet] Germany now had a deployment site at its disposal with its strategic railroads, and it had the opportunity to secure its Western border... Until the spring of 1939, there were so few trained army reserves and the Air Force was so weak that these military forces only sufficed to put up a weak border defense... Also, the strengthened security at the Western border during the Sudeten crisis in 1938 (''Case Green'') did not mean ''war planning against the West''... it was more of a natural precaution caused by the French-Czech alliance... After the end of the Sudeten crisis, this fleeting act of strengthening security on Germany''s Western border was terminated by the agreement of Munich..." Halder continues in the same vein, and concludes by asking that Burdick will not publish any of the contents of his letter. Signed at the conclusion in blue ink. Folds, else very good. WITH: A second T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Aschau, Jan. 6, 1971, Halder thanks Dr. Charles Burdick for writing a tribute for general HUBERT LANZ in honor of his 75th birthday. Halder praises Burdick as someone whose: "...thorough search for truth... uncommon psychological sensitivity and... clear perception of the essential..." [have enabled] "... human understanding... [to] blaze a trail... over the years of war enmity..." Signed at the conclusion in black ink. Folds, else very good. Two pieces.

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September 13, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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