Description:

HANDCUFFS, HELMET, UNIFORM, AND SERVICE RELICS OF NUREMBERG TRIALS CPL. RICHARD MANLY
An outstanding grouping of rare Nuremberg Trial items from the estate of Cpl. Richard Manly, an American soldier who guarded the chief defendants during their war crimes trial at Nuremberg, his term being from June-December, 1945. Manly had originally joined the 49th Infantry ("Cross of Lorraine") Division only a year before the trials, qualifying as a machine gunner. He apparently joined the regiment during its heavy engagements along the Belgian-German border and the Siegfried Line. On Mar. 24, 1945, the regiment crossed the Rhine, secured the north bank of the Ruhr and took part in clearing the Ruhr Pocket after which it took on occupation duties. Manly, having insufficient points to receive a discharge, was ordered to Nuremberg to serve as one of the 26 rotating guards present during the incarceration and trial of the major war criminals. In a newspaper interview (included), Manly describes being a "shadow" to Goring, Hess, and other defendants, and how he was often handcuffed to Rudolf Hess "putting on his crazy act" to prevent an escape attempt.

A plethora of material is included in this excellent grouping: gunmetal black Peerless handcuffs and keys used by Manly to transport prisoners, mainly Rudolph Hess; exceedingly rare white helmet liner with green webbing and brown leather sweatband bearing the emblem of the 6850th Internal Security Detachment on both sides of the helmet and hand-marked with Manly's name within (two minor 1" tears to edges with no loss); Army-issue "Ike" jacket with 1st Infantry Division and Army Services Forces shoulder patches, also sergeant and service stripes, with pants (the 6850th served as part of the 1st Infantry); Army standard issue visor cap; 1943 U.S. Army whistle and steel chain, two sets of Manly's dog tags; Army-issue pocket New Testament; two LIFE magazine photos and two original 4" x 3" b/w photos showing Manly in guard's uniform and standing at the dock with the principal war crimes defendants in forefront; leather pistol shoulder holster marked with Manly's initials, regiment, and a Cross of Lorraine; multiple medals and insignia including C.I.B., qualification badges, 79th Infantry shoulder patch and chest pin, ribbon bars, sergeant's stripes, Presidential Unit Citation pin with oak leaf; and much ephemera including three notebooks with addresses of friends and other notes, a scrapbook kept by a family member tracking Manly's war record, along with a window flag hung in his memory; his signed pay book; nine photos of friends, captioned on verso, Manly's stenciled duffel bag; three war-date printed company and regimental histories, bound, and a November, 1945 extensive bound regimental history. Overall fine condition. Obviously, this grouping includes the rarest helmet obtainable, and as a set, nothing comparable has ever been offered. Museum quality relics.

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January 30, 2013 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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