Lot 967

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

SS CONCENTRATION CAMP GUARD'S SOLDBUCH, WEHRPASS, AND DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
A BUCHENWALD AND SACHSENHAUSEN GUARD'S PAPAERS An excessively rare grouping of documents from an SS camp guard at Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen who later served at the headquarters of the SS Race and Resettlement Office. These documents were all issued to SS-Oberscharfuhrer Kurt Knuth, born in northwestern Poland in 1905. Included is Knuth's "Soldbuch", issued by the 3.SS T. St. "Thuringen" on Sep. 7, 1939 at Buchenwald. Also present is Knuth's "Wehrpass", issued May 20, 1941. Knuth is pictured within in a rarely seen photo of an SS man in concentration camp guard's uniform with totenkopf collar and two-color piping. The third document present, 1p. sm. 4to., Oranienburg, Mar. 20, 1941 (temporarily) discharges Knuth from duty in the concentration camp service and is signed by SS-Untersturmfuhrer ALBERT OBERSCHMID, (1913 - ?), later a SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer and a senior administrator at KL Sachsenhausen. The documents reveal that from Novermber, 1939 to April, 1940 Knuth served with the SS-Totenkopfsturmbann Sachsenhausen, the guards unit at that camp. On April 23, 1940 he was discharged "unfit for service" but by June, 1941 he was apparently sufficiently recovered to return to the same duty at Sachsenhausen. In March, 1942 he was sent to the SS General Headquarters, and in July he was finally transferred to the notorious R.u.S. Hauptamt SS, the SS Race and Resettlement Office. This office was charged with maintaining "racial purity" within the SS, but it is more likely that Knuth was sent into the field where he would have had any number of duties. These may have included seizing suitable "Aryan" children for adoption in Germany, selection of slave laborers, and deportation and "resettlement" (ie: murder) of large numbers of Jews and other minorities. The last entry is for a promotion while in the reserves in 1944. An exceptionally rare grouping, very good.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via USPS Priority, USPS International Priority, DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option, 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 14 - 21 days for shipments to arrive after receipt of payment due to the high volume of package being shipped.

August 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 26.5% 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 + $10,000