Lot 713

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Description:

POST-MORTEM REPORT FOLLOWING THE DEATH HEINRICH HIMMLER
One of the most impressive documents we''ve had the honor to offer, the initial handwritten post mortem report resulting from the physical examination of the body of Reichsfuhrer-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER who had committed suicide by cyanide two days earlier. This was the first examination of Himmler''s body, made at the headquarters of the 2nd British Army at Luneburg and undertaken by four physicians and attendants of the 74th British General Hospital. The unsigned manuscript is in the hand of pathologist "Dr. Bond", 6pp. legal folio, and is accompanied by the contemporary 6pp. legal folio transcript (carbon retained copy) prepared for the British Army and headed: "Post Mortem Examination to Establish Identification Carried Out at 11.00 Hours 25.5.45". The manuscript contains a wealth of fascinating information, in part: "...The body was that of an adult male, well-nourished and physique up to average standard...Head: Average size, symetrical...very few grey hairs were apparent. The hair had been recently cut...Wyes: Slightly protruding...Glasses...The hip of the nose is slightly flattened, and deviated toward the right...Face:...the cheeks are not full...Mouth not large and no unusual features are apparent. The chin recedes in a marked manner and there is a cleft in the midline...Neck: Short and thick...the line of the lower jaw is not well defined...Chest: Well developed, normal shape, good growth of hair on anterior surface...publc hair extending to umbilicus...External Genital: Possessed no unusual features...Arms: Muscular, hands not large...Legs: Muscular and well developed..." A great more detail is included, along with measurements of of Himmler''s skull, torso, limbs, and abdomen. The retained carbon bears file holes at one margin, the manuscript is very good. Also present are two original photographs taken at the examination. A plaster death mask was taken from Himmler''s face and it is illustrated in both of the 5" x 6 1/2" photos, in one image wearing a German visor cap and wire-rimmed spectacles. The photos and report were all prepared in order to confirm the identity of the body at hand as being that of Heinrich Himmler. Provenance includes a statement by Dr. John St. George Glyn of Capetown, South Africa on his personal correspondence card in which he notes: "Report on the identification of the body of Heinrich Himmler conducted in a small house in Luneburg...The original is by Capt. Bond...". He also lists the names of the four men participating, noting that he was present as "Laboratory Assistant". We conclude that it was Glyn who types the transcript and who then kept the original manuscript by Dr. Bond. Dr. John St. George Glyn (b. 1916) served as a sergeant and medic in a force of South Africans under British command. He initially served in Finland and in England, then landed with British forces on D-Day. Following Himmler''s autopsy, Glyn worked tirelessly in saving the lives of prisoners liberated at Bergen-Belsen. Our consignor is a direct descendant of Dr. Glyn. The family history was also presented on the 2009 South African television version of "Who Do You Think You Are?", a genealogical research program. During the program, Dr. Glyn''s life is discussed quite extensively, and his participation in the Himmler post-mortem examination is affirmed. Also filmed is a British Army nurse who served with Dr. Glyn from 1944 and who was invited to view Himmler''s body nearby. Glyn''s presence at the post-mortem is further corroborated on the Imperial War Museum''s catalog listing for Himmler''s death mask. An important historic document.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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