THE FUNERAL OF ALFRED KESSELRING
A fascinating lot with superb content, featuring Albert Kesselring's funeral notice and a series of postcard photographs capturing the event. Kesselring died on July 16, 1960. Prior to his death Kesselring served as the leader of a powerful quasi-military and neo-Nazi organization in Germany called Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten [The Steel Helmet, League of Frontline Soldiers], a position Kesselring was elected to in 1952 while still imprisoned for war crimes. Kesselring's Stahlhelm brethren organized the funeral along military tradition, with a uniformed procession and a rifle volley over his grave. Included is a printed Stahlhelm funeral notice in German on official letterhead, 1p., 8vo, Bad Godesberg-Mehlem, July 19, 1960. It reads, in part: "...National Leader of the Stahlhelm, League of Frontline Soldiers General Field Marshall Albert Kesselring, after a long illness, at the age of 74 years, has been dismissed to the Big Army [in the sky]. He died as he lived: a soldier until the last few days...". The lot also includes seven postcard photographs, 5 1/2" x 3", b/w, picturing various funeral scenes. Two photographs feature an escort bearing a pillow with Kesselring's Nazi decorations, including several Iron Crosses, a Nazi eagle, and other badges; also visible is a wreath presented by the Association of German Soldiers (Verband Deutscher Soldaten). Present in the photographs are many prominent former Nazis: Sepp Dietrich. Ferdinand Schorner, Josef Kammhbuer, Karl Donitz, and Joachim Peiper. Overall fine .