Description:

Historic original partly-printed and typed organizational flowchart “Gliederung Oberkommando d. Wehrmacht” (“Structure of the O.K.W.”), 1P. 14” X 9 ¼”, [Flensburg, May 1945], in German. This organizational diagram shows the composition of the German Army High Command (OKW) as of May 10, 1945 Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel as “Chef OKW/Chefgruppe” and Generaloberst Alfred Jodl as “Chef Wehrmachtsfuhrungsstab,” and it also identifies the ranks of various other German officers within the structure of the OKW including Hermann Reinecke, Rudolf Lehmann, Siegfried Adolf Handloser, Leopold Burkner, Erich Dethleffsen and Heinz Assmann. Some light overall creasing and some tears and areas of paper loss to some edges and corners, professionally restored in places. This document originates from the estate of Major Gen. Sir Kenneth Strong, Eisenhower's Chief of Intelligence. It was produced at the insistence of the Allies when a SHAEF Control Party visited government leader admiral and Reichspresident Karl Donitz's headquarters at Flensburg on May 12, 1945. OKW were ordered to produce a number of documents relating to the composition of the Wehrmacht, this being one of them. Historically significant in that it is the last OKW organizational diagram to include Field Marshall Keitel as its chief. By midday that same day, Donitz was advised that Keitel was, on the instructions of General Eisenhower, to be relieved of his post immediately and treated as a prisoner of war. Colonel General Jodl assumed Keitel's position until both the Acting German Government and the German High Command were dissolved and its members arrested on the May 23, 1945. The OKW was headed for the entire war by Keitel and reported directly to Hitler. Alfred Jodl was Keitel's Chef des Wehrmachtfuhrungsstabes (Chief of Operation Staff). During the Nuremberg Trials, the OKW was indicted but acquitted of being a criminal organization like the Waffen-SS. Wilhelm Keitel and Alfred Jodl were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Jodl was posthumously acquitted of the main charges against him in 1952, six years after the sentence was carried out.

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April 30, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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