Description:

WILHELM KEITEL'S PRESENTATION PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM OF THE SURRENDER OF FRANCE
The Armistice of June 22, 1940 was an agreement signed at 18:36 on June 22, 1940 near Compiegne, France by officials of Nazi Germany and the French Third Republic. It became effective at midnight on 25 June. Signatories for Germany included Wilhelm Keitel, the senior military officer of the Wehrmacht present, and his defeated lower-ranked contemporary, French Gen. Charles Huntziger. When Adolf Hitler received word from the French government that it wished to negotiate an armistice, he selected the site of the 1918 Armistice and the Compiegne Wagon, the same rail carriage where the Germans had signed the 1918 Armistice, as an act of revenge and humiliation. Hitler sat in the same chair in which Marshal Ferdinand Foch had sat when he faced the representatives of the defeated German Empire. After listening to the reading of the preamble, Hitler—in a calculated gesture of disdain for the French delegates—exited the carriage, as Foch had done in 1918, leaving the negotiations to the chief of the O.K.W., General Wilhelm Keitel. Offered here is a historic relic of epic proportions, the photograph album presented to Gen. Wilhelm Keitel, German signatory to the French armistice/surrender, presenting 46 mostly large format original photographs showing the epic events preceding, during, and following the surrender proceedings at Compiegne. It is our belief that the photographs were all taken by Hitler's preferred photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, as several of the images are already known and so credited, but the great majority are apparently completely unknown and exist here alone. The photographs are presented in a 14.5 x 11 in. padded taupe pigskin album with a national eagle printed at upper-left. Photos within vary in size from 5.25 x 7 in. to 9.5 x 7.25 in., which is the case with the great majority of the grouping. All of the photos are mounted, with the front pastedown bearing a Hoffmann portrait of Keitel. There follows five images of Hitler at the scene, some including HERMANN GORING, RUDOLF HESS, ERICH RAEDER, Keitel, and other top military men who had already been on the scene to negotiate the surrender. One photo shows them standing in their glory before the rail car, a Fuhrer standard flying in the background. Images that follow show the arrival of the French surrender delegation which includes Gen. CHARLES HUNTZIGER and the traitorous Vichy leader PIERRE LAVAL. Two photos show Hitler and his personal delegation walking out on the proceedings, followed by eleven photos of the actual signing of the armistice. The photos of Huntziger and Keitel signing are displayed in the album side-by-side. The dejected French general is then shown leaving the rail car alone. The degradation of the French continues, with images of German soldiers resting their feet upon a monument commemorating the German surrender, a German parade before the statue of Marshal Foch, the distraught French and a gleeful Keitel and staff, other military brass at the scene, etc. The covers of the album bear some light wear and a single spot, their edges and corners worn a bit, the contents of the album are very fine. This album is accompanied by the original letter of provenance from its discoverer, Cpl. Jules Chicoine (1921-2003) of the 506th P.I.R., 101st Airborne Division which participated in the D-Day and Market Garden jumps, defended Bastogne, and helped capture Berchtesgaden. The handwritten 1956 letter, addressed to the father of our consignor, reads in part: '...While with the 101st Airborne I found the album while in General Keitel['s] summer home in Berchtesgaden Germany and I think I described to you that it dealt with the surrender of France...' He also offers to send some snapshots of Keitel's home (not present). Chicoine was a regimental photographer and is credited in his unit's history, which further explains his interest in keeping the book as a souvenir. More on Cpl. Jules Chicoine may be found at https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/triggertimeforum/jules-chicoine-t12565.html. A historic association and a unique album the contents of which have never been seen and depicting one of the most decisive events of World War II.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. We will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. 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 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% 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 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000