Lot 859

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Description:

HEINRICH HIMMLER'S LAST COMMAND
Fine content, very late war-date D.S. "H. Himmler" on "Der Reichsfuhrer-SS" letterhead and stamped "Secret", 1p. sm. folio, Berlin, May 14, 1945. At the end of January, 1945 Hitler gave Himmler what he had wanted for years: a full army to command. Army Group Vistula was to defend Germany from the relentless Russian attacks advancing from the Vistula River. The army's strength was in the region of 500,000 troops; in general, the army group was poorly equipped, many of its units being little more than the 'paper' formations typical of the German military at the end of World War II. Additionally, Himmler had no experience commanding soldiers in the field. The result was a disaster, with heavy casualties and large numbers taken prisoner. On the day before he signed this directive Himmler, claiming illness, abandoned his post on the Oder River and hid out at his cottage in Hohenlychen. While there he resigned his command. The next day, Himmler issued this directive to all Waffen-SS units and others previously under his command, ordering a full and complete inspection by the SS Headquarters. It further reads: "...In all matters of organization, military training and deployment of the Waffen-SS units, instructions and orders of the General Inspection shall be bound as from the SS Command Headquarters. All previous orders regarding the General Inspection are repealed...". Himmler no doubt feared Hitler's wrath at his failed military leadership, and wanted at the very least to show that he was still able to competently lead the SS. Folds, file holes at left, very light scatters foxing, else very good.

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

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