Description:

OSCAR MAX WILMS WANTED POSTER
(?-?) Purported Nicaraguan Nazi spy, who, according to the poster was ‘formerly a representative of a German importing and exporting firm at Managua, Nicaragua…deported from that country because of his Nazi activities there, entered the United States on May 13, 1942, and was interned as an enemy alien upon arrival. He returned to Germany on the exchange ship Gripsholm on February 15, 1944, and was known as late as March, 1944 to be attached to the German Intelligence Service in Europe. Wilms, who speaks English with very little accent, was then working with German agents who were being trained in order that they could be sent to the United States to commit espionage…'. Two Colombia-born German saboteurs were also linked to Wilms: Christian Johannes Schneemann and Hans Rudolf Christian Zuehlsdorff. According to the New York Times, ‘[the men were] trained at the German Espionage and Sabotage School at The Hague, Holland, together with Erich Gimpel and William C. Colepaugh, the two Nazis recently captured in New York after landing from a German submarine near Hancock Point, Me. Each of the three had been active in Nazi propaganda or espionage in Latin America before they were returned to Germany in 1942 and 1944, said J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI. All three spent some time in alien enemy camps in the United States when they were en route from Latin America to Germany. Descriptions of the hunted spies contained picturesque details. One man had broken wild horses in South America, while another likes to crack his false teeth together…' (Jan. 20, 1945). An original FBI Wanted poster, 10.5 x 16 in., issued on Jan. 20, 1945 for information leading to Wilms' arrest. Two images of Wilms from 1924 appear at top and his physical description beneath. Two file holes at top, usual folds and light wear to margins. Very good.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. We will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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