Description:

WILHELM KEITEL
(1882-1946) German field marshal and army chief of staff under Adolf Hitler, convicted of war crimes and executed at Nuremberg. Fine content war-date D.S. signed twice, 4pp. large 4to. [Berlin], Sep. 25, 1942, Keitel's recommendation that Gen. VIKTOR VON DRABICH-WAECHTER be awarded the German Cross in Silver. He notes, in part: '...Lieutenant General von Drabich-Waechter has been a member of the Army Personnel Staff since February 1, 1933, and...has shown exemplary sensitivity to the major new tasks arising from the Army's reorganization, preparing and implementing the entire personnel mobilization of the Army officer corps...mastered with tireless and selfless commitment...The handling of mobilization and the staffing of officer positions for the subsequent numerous new formations demonstrated excellent human insight, a clear assessment of the available options, and tenacious energy in overcoming all obstacles that repeatedly necessitated new temporary staff...After the campaigns in Poland, in the north, west, and southeast, von Drabich-Waechter proved himself particularly valuable in the preparation of the Eastern Campaign and during the last six months of this campaign. Although the area of [?] work became increasingly larger and the officer situation became particularly serious and difficult in the fall of 1941 and summer of 1942, it is thanks to von Drabich-Waechter's great knowledge of people and his work ethic that all requirements could be met by exploiting even the last available resources...' File holes at left margin, a bit brittle, else very good. Von Drabich-Waechter would be killed in action at Le Mesnil-Robert, Normandy on Aug. 2, 1944.

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June 26, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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