Lot 598

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Description:

THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS OF ADOLF HITLERS POLITICAL AND PERSONAL TESTAMENTS
An important historical find, ten original 7 x 5 in. b/w photographs of Adolf Hitler's political and personal testaments, as well as MARTIN BORMANN's cover letter to future chancellor KARL DONITZ, owned by the discoverer of the original documents, Army CIC Special Agent Ernst J. Mueller. The photographs are exact images of the documents at the time of their discovery by Mueller, and include Bormann's crumpled April 29, 1945 letter to Donitz which was wrapped about the documents and which briefly describe them. The discovery of these documents is quite a tale. Briefly, on Dec. 26, 1945, future historian Major Hugh Trevor Roper in British counter-intelligence learned that Wilhelm Zander, Bormann's adjutant, was living in the Tegernsee area under an alias. Zander's girlfriend tipped-off Americans who sent soldiers to search her residence where they discovered Zander and the suitcase, which was hidden in a dry well. The suitcase seemed empty but was brought to 303 CIC Detachment team headquarters in Tegernsee for further examination. Special Agent Mueller was tasked with the search. Initially disappointed to find the bag empty, after a while he felt a bulge behind a camouflaged lining. Opening the lining, he discovered Hitler's testaments and Bormann's letter, along with Hitler's marriage license, Zander's travel pass, and photographs of Eva Braun and an unknown young boy. The lot is accompanied by extensive documentation, including declassified Army reports describing the discovery, a National Archives study, and 1956 newspaper articles showing Mueller, his photo album, and describing his involvement in the discovery of the documents. Fine condition.

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June 14, 2023 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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