Description:

KONRAD HENLEIN IS AWARDED THE 'FREEDOM OF THE CITY' OF WILDSTEIN
KONRAD HENLEIN (1898 - 1945) Gauleiter and Reichsstatthalter of the Sudetenland, his influence among ethnic Germans contributed to the Munich Agreement and subsequent seizure of all of Czechoslovakia. Committed suicide at war's end. Rare, finely-accomplished hand-lettered and illustrated award document, 1p. 17 x 12 in. overall, Wildstein, May 4, 1939, awarded to Henlein and offering him the 'freedom of the city' of Wildstein for his 'unique contributions to the liberation of the Sudetenland......the population of the city...vows to give you an inviolable throne...they believe with you in the supremacy of Adolf Hitler and in an eternal, great Deutschland...' At its beginning and end, the document bears small original ink wash paintings industry, pastoral scenes...and an S.A. bonfire rally. The document is contained within a brown leather folder 'Honorary Citizen's letter from the City of Wildstein'. The original braided leather cord securing the document to the folder is broken, but present. The document also bears a small worn chip at the top between the two leaves. This document was taken by an American soldier, a member of the 745th Tank Battalion which found itself in Czechoslovakia at war's end. Included are four sheets of stationery from Henlein's widow, Emmy, along with soldier's Eisenhower jacket with sergeant's stripes, 1st Infantry Division patch, and three years of overseas stripes; photographs; discharge certificate; a letter from a German lady lover; and a ca. 1946 history of this hard-fighting battalion.

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November 30, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$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