NAZI PRISONERS AT WERL
A fascinating collection of Nazi war criminal signatures, penned on a D.S., 1p., folio, Werl Prison, 1947, entitled "The Padre's Uncles" in black pen, being a dour attempt at gallows humor by the incarcerated Nazis. Field Marshall Albert Kesselring created for the Allied chaplain at Werl Prison what is essentially a table of information on ten general officers held while awaiting execution for war crimes, with headings for Family Name, First Name, Date of Birth, Residence Address, and Home Residence Contact and Address (for family correspondence). In addition to Kesselring, the following generals have signed and included their information: General Field Marshal ERICH VON MANSTEIN, SS General KARL WOLFF, General NIKOLAUS VON FALKENHORST, General KURT MAELZER, General EBERHARD VON MACKENSEN, SS Lieutenant General MAX SIMON, Lieutenant General CURT GALLENKAMP, General AUGUST SCHMIDT, and General EDUARD CRASEMANN. A British Court convicted all to die by the noose or rifle, but most had their sentences eventually commuted to life in prison or less (Max Simon and Eduard Crasemann both died in prison of other causes). Three tiny 1 1/2" x 1" b/w photographs accompany the lot, which were taken secretly from inside the prison, two featuring a disheveled von Mackensen inside his cell with an old pea coat and showing his prison door porthole, and one showing a somewhat blurred view of the outside fence and grounds. The photographs are fine, with 4 ?" x 6 1/2" blow-ups included. The roster document is encased in a red and gold frame and is unevenly age toned, else fine. Not examined outside of frame .