Description:

(1906 – 1967) "The Bitch of Buchenwald" Wife of Karl-Otto Koch, commandant of the Nazi concentration camps Buchenwald (1937–1941) and Majdanek (1941–1943). In 1947, she became one of the first prominent Nazis tried by the U.S. military. She was accused of taking souvenirs from the skin of murdered inmates with distinctive tattoos. Koch hanged herself at Aichach women's prison on 1 September 1967 at age 60. She suffered from delusions and had become convinced that concentration camp survivors would abuse her in her cell. Excessively rare A.L.S. "Ilse" written in German from her jail cell, 1p. 4to., Aichach, [n.d.]. Difficult to translate, but reads in part: "...Sick in body and soul. Bring clothes...All other information by mouth..." Right margin a bit ragged, else boldly penned and very good. This very example appears in Charles Hamilton's definitive work "Leaders & Personalities of the Third Reich, Vol. 2", pp. 158-160. Copy of the text included. Also present is an original Third Reich-period 4.25 in. x 3.25 in. b/w photograph of Koch with her husband and an unidentified SS office, with a faint red ink identifying inscription to the verso.

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November 19, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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