Description:

(1910 - 1952) German SS officer during the Nazi era. Schellenberg rose through the ranks of the SS, becoming one of the highest ranking men in the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) and eventually assumed the position as head of foreign intelligence for Nazi Germany following the abolition of the Abwehr in 1944. Schellenberg was romantically involved with Coco Chanel and with her assistance sought to broker a separate peace with Great Britain. At the end of the war, Schellenberg was able to persuade Himmler to try negotiating with the Allies through Count Folke Bernadotte. WALTER SCHELLENBERG'S PERSONAL DIARY, AND A MEETING WITH OTTO SKORZENY Revealing A.Ms.S., approx. 250pp. 12mo., Schellenberg's personal diary for 1951 containing very brief daily entries for the year 1950, and signed by him at the front of the book. In addition to his signature on the first page, the red faux leather book has his passport number and telephone number on the first page. The entries are in German and largely routine, with a number of interesting and sometimes intriguing exceptions throughout. These include: "...meeting at Savoy at 19:45 Gucollo...Telefono a Lausanne!...Sven telef. Paris - Sturtzmann...2 leters from Sturtzmann...WIBOO+VIDALLE - BASSO writes for, I must have patience. Sven did not get treaty with Mondadori [Italian author]...Sven will start for States...At 16h visit to BASS; OK - Dinner with MA...Talk in my room 60.000 Lire...Dinner Basso, Banco Comm....Perdomint arrives! Injection! Long sleep!...Sven+Herzberger conversation...Francis calls, promises to send 100.000...Start trip to Madrid...eating with Elizabeth and Otto [Skorzeny]'s mother...Discussion with Rolf Steinbauer [alias used by Otto Skorzeny] and Ilse v. Finkenstein Frau [Skorzeny's wife]...2500 Pes[os] 200 Doll 5000 Pes[os]...Luis Rodrigues...Toledo with Otto...Dinner family Dr. Segu and Karl Hermann...Departure Irene Negotiation: 120.000 in cash 100.000 Advance Herzberger paid...Worked on case Sorge...Contract..Frau Prenzgen..." Most entries are similar to the above, and continue consistently until about Mid-October when they start to lessen a bit in regularity. The last entry is on November 21st. Additionally, other pages include travel expenses and other notes, with a section in the rear of the book dedicated to a large group of Schellenberg's personal contacts. These include Graf Gottfried von Bismarck, Monette Basso, B. Bossi, Albrecht Focke, Max von Hohenlohe, Miguel Rodriguez, Marie Luise Schienke, Dr. Schaeffner, Wilhelm Stuckart, Wilhelm Spengler, Claude Sandoz, Rolf Steinbauer [a/k/a Otto Skorzeny and his wife, Ilse von Finckenstein, El Marques de Vallecerrato, titular Governor of Gibraltar, and many others. Very good. Of particular interest here is the connection with Skorzeny. In July, 1945 Schellenberg's British captors sent him to London where he was extensively interrogated; their intention (along with the Americans) was to extract information on any remaining Nazi resistance yet to surface and to gather what they could on Germany's possible post-war intelligence activities. Schellenberg told the Allies that no such plans were in place, which seemed to be supported by Allied intelligence efforts. Schellenberg had been on the opposite side of the RSHA faction which included Skorzeny, Kaltenbrunner, and Muller, which helped his defense at Nuremberg. However, with Skorzeny running rat lines helping SS men escape prosecution in Europe, Schellenberg's meeting with the ex-commando becomes very suspicious.

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March 31, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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