Lot 218

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Description:

HEINRICH HIMMLER
(1900 - 1945) Hitler's Chief of the Gestapo in charge of security and responsible for the construction and operation of extermination camps. He chose suicide rather than face a hangman's noose at Nuremburg. HIMMLER CONTRACTS FUTURE KNIGHTS CROSS RECIPIENT OSKAR DREXLER INTO THE SS Fine content and association partly-printed D.S., 1p. 4to., Berlin, Nov. 1, 1935 in which Himmler signs an SS 'Service Contract' with SS-Untersturmfuhrer OSKAR DREXLER (1911-1982). Drexler would take part in the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938. He would join the SS 'Das Reich' Division, eventually becoming the commander of the II.Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Artillery Regiment, and was transferred to the 12th SS Panzer Division 'Hitlerjugend' in command of the 12th SS Panzer Artillery Regiment. He was awarded the Knight's Cross near the end of the war on 6 May 1945, an immediate award by the commander of the 6th SS Panzer Army, Sepp Dietrich (though some consider the award invalid). This important document reads, in part: '...The German Reich, represented by the Reich Minister of the Interior, who was represented by the Reichsfuhrer-SS, concludes with SS Untersturmführer Oscar Drexler born on the 9th March 1911 in Nuremberg the following service contract: The SS-Untersturmführer Oscar Drexler undertakes to serve as a leader in the SS-Verfugungstruppe continuously until the age of 45 in accordance with the laws, regulations and provisions applicable to the SS-Verfugungstruppe. After turning 45, the service contract is extended from year to year unless it is terminated three months before the end of the year. The first year of service as an SS leader is considered a probationary period. During this period, the Reichsfuhrer SS may terminate this contract at any time with a notice period of one quarter. No justification for this termination is required...There is no right to object to this...The service obligation expires on 8.3.1957...'. Also signed twice by Drexler, who accepts the conditions of the contract and acknowledges receipt of a copy of the agreement. File holes at left, else fine. A superlative document!

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November 29, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000