Description:

HEINZ MACHER AND THE LAST DAYS OF HEINRICH HIMMLER
(1919 – 2001) Waffen-SS member and Nazi official who served as the second personal assistant to Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler and a recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. In 1945, Macher led a group of 15 SS specialists who were ordered by Himmler to blow up the SS castle Wewelsburg near Paderborn in order to ensure that the devotional objects and important files should not fall into the hands of the Allies. Incredible, historically important pair of handwritten and signed war-date manuscripts, with almost every page signed, each 11pp. legal; folio, [n.p. but while in Allied custody), dated Dec . 9 and Dec. 10, 1945 respectively. In these bold pencil writings, every page bearing Macher's name and prisoner number, Himmler's trusted aide sets forth his movements in the latter days of the war, incorporating a substantial amount of what Himmler confided to him in the days before his suicide. The December 9 document opens with two pages of Macher's notes on his movements during the entire war. He then commences a 'Report on my activitis during the period 18th Jan - 21st May 1945'. He recounts meeting with 'RF SS' very often in his writings, of course meaning the 'Reichsfuhrer-SS' Heinrich Himmler. He discusses: holding Vietz in January; throwing back the Soviets at Kustrin; setting up an escort battalion for Himmler; creation of an assault pioneer group; building a defense line on the Elbe at Wittenberg; arguing troop placement with Hermann Fegelein; receiving orders from Himmler to blow bridges from Oranienburg to Berlin; and learning of Hitler's death. He then adds details of his final days on the run with Himmler, in part: '...I accompany RF SS [Himmler] on the journey to Doenitz. In PLOEN, both meet for discussion. From there to another command post...Units of the Waffen SS receive the order to surrender to the Western Powers, but continue fighting in the East...if I had freedom of action I would not allow myself to be captured. For six years I somehow managed to get through the war with 12 injuries and now imprisonment?? NEVER. I would have liked to look for my family and taken them out of the Russian zone, but RF SS does not let me go, he makes the decisions. He selects a woodland farm near South Flensburg. From there he writes a letter to Field Marshal Montgomery. He now decides to reach the HARZ on foot so as to, firstly make contact there with Montgomery, secondly, to gain time and thirdly to address himself to the public...he waits 5 days for a reply to his letter...On our march we go through LAMSTEDT and BREMERVOERDE and then on to MEINSTEDT, where we are arrested by an English patrol. On the way he [Himmler] talks of his intention to cooperate with the Allies in order to create a united Europe, so as to be forearmed against the Asiatic front which, one day will attack, but somehow he has doubts whether England recognizes his plan for the Continent....' Signed at conclusion. A day later, Macher writes the second signed manuscript, again 11pp. legal folio, in pencil and again with each page signed adding his prisoner number at top. The manuscript opens with a lengthy list of those senior officers Macher met from Jan. 18, 1945 until his capture on May 21, 1945. He then writes his 'lebenslauf', or personal biography with emphasis on his military history including his service in the SS-VT, training at Chemnitz, service in the attack on Poland, transfer to the 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Totenkopf', wounding on the Eastern Front, leading the SS Panzer Gren. Div. 'Deutschland', Knights Cross award for Charkow and Oak Leaves for St. Lo, and the resulting 'tea with the Fuhrer'. An extraordinary manuscript, in excellent condition.

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December 4, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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