Description:

HASSO VON MANTEUFFEL
(1897-1978) Commander of the 5th Panzer Army which spearheaded the ill-fated Ardennes offensive of January 1945. After vainly requesting more help from a vacillating Hitler, he spoke despairingly of 'a corporal's war'. Later served as a delegate to the Bundestag (1953-7). Excellent content T.L.S. in English, 1p. 4to., Diessen am Ammersee, March 9, 1972, answering a researcher's questions about other German generals and the accusations of Martin Bormann being a spy for the Soviet Union. In part: '...I regret that you have no answer by Col. Gen. Student - but I have no connection with him!...Col. Gen Heinrici died some months ago!...General (ret.) Gehlen is not convincing in his book about the activities of Borman [sic] as a spy for the Soviets during the war! On the other hand Gehlen is an absolute trustworthy gentleman! It seems right, that Borman was in Russian captivity after the collapse of Germany May 1945!...' Signed at the conclusion in blue ink. Very good. Bormann's whereabouts after Hitler's suicide remained hotly debated for decades after the war as several organizations, including the CIA and the West German Government, attempted to locate Bormann without success. In 1964, the West German government offered a reward of 100,000 Deutsche Marks for information leading to Bormann's capture. Sightings were reported at points all over the world, including Australia, Denmark, Italy, and South America. Nazi intelligence officer Reinhard Gehlen, mentioned above, claimed Bormann had been a Soviet spy, and that he had escaped to Moscow, while Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal believed that Bormann was living in South America. The West German government declared that its hunt for Bormann was over in 1971 - just one year before this letter was sent, and two years before his remains would finally be found and confirmed.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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