Lot 390

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Description:

ROBERT LEY
(1890-1945) Nazi leader and ardent anti-Semite who as head of the Labor Front ruthlessly enforced slave labor policies. He committed suicide in his jail cell at Nuremburg while awaiting trial. Rare A.L.S. ‘Dr. Robert Ley' as prisoner of war on official postcard, [Nuremberg], Sept. 23, 1945. Just one month before committing suicide, Ley writes to his young mistress Madelaine Farr (Wanderer), with whom he had taken up after his wife's suicide in 1942. In part: ‘…I have great sorrow and anxiety about you…It was suddenly as if I heard your voice, but it was my imagination. If I could only get some news of you. It is miserable. If you are unhappy, you could perhaps try to apply to Prof. Morell…'. Wanderer (1926-2007) was an Estonian ballet dancer and only 19 at the time of this letter. She met Ley in Berlin in 1943 and was with him continuously until Apr. 5, 1945. From then on, she saw him only sporadically, as Ley had become involved in bringing his idea of a new paramilitary Freikorps (‘Free Regiment') to life, and was consequently very busy. On Apr. 26, Ley ordered her to go to Mittenwald, which was to be the headquarters of the new corps, but changed his plans and instead went to Dresden. She did not see him again. In his will Ley left money to Wanderer, with the request that his son, Rolf Robert Ley (b. 1944?) be legitimized, and for Hitler to be the godfather. A number of Freikorps were raised in the years 1944-45, but they did not have much political or military impact, and, despite the fact that many high-ranking Nazi officials were previously members, they were all but forgotten. Boldly penciled, very good. WITH: ADOLF STEENGRACHT VON MOYLAND (1902-1969) German politician, Secretary of State in the Foreign Office from 1943-45 as assistant to Joachim von Ribbentrop. A.L.S. as prisoner of war on official postcard, 1p. 12mo., [Nuremberg], Sept. 24, 1945, in pencil to his wife, sending greetings and adding ‘Moyland is destroyed'. Very good. Two pieces.

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November 29, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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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