Lot 148

RAOUL CASTEX AND OTHER NAVAL OFFICERS REMARK ON HITLER

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RAOUL CASTEX AND OTHER NAVAL OFFICERS REMARK ON HITLER

Estimate: $300 - $400

Starting Bid: $160

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 30, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

RAOUL CASTEX AND OTHER NAVAL OFFICERS REMARK ON HITLER
RAOUL CASTEX (1878-1968) French vice admiral revered for his naval strategy and numerous works on the subject, he commanded France's northern naval forces from headquarters in Dunkirk until a feud with Francois Darlan ended his career. A group of three fine content A.Ls.S., the first 2pp. 8vo., Paris, May 9, 1939, on letterhead of the Ministry of the Navy to the far Right politician JACQUES BENOIST-MECHIN, in part: ‘…Thank you very much for the letter…regarding your work ‘Clarifications on Mein Kampf'…Your latest work, like its precedent, has taught me a great deal about the essential ideas of the author…These are not merely theses that shine through their subtlety or their depth. And it is no small subject of astonishment that their author, a simple primary school teacher, should have become…the ‘master of the hour'. The explanation is, in fact simple. It is that the value and effectiveness of men, institutions and systems are not absolute, but very relative…While there unfolded in Germany the process of recovery that you have so clearly described, what were we doing for 20 years, among the two principle ex-Allies, victors of 1918? Pacifism, cowardice, laziness, abandonment…decadence…political blindness…If, on the contrary, France and England had remained on the Rhine, if they had maintained intact their instruments of strength and their warrior qualities, Hitler would have remained a minor agitator, quickly returned to the shadows; Mein Kampf would not have sold more than 500 copies; Germany would not have rebuilt its military power…and we would be quite at ease. The remarkable fact of our era is not the rise of Hitler, but the moral collapse of the two nations mentioned above, which made Hitler's rise possible. And this collapse occurred among two victorious peoples…' Along with two A.Ls.S. on postcards from the Ecole de Guerre, 1936 and 1938, with similar content about Germany in the years 1870 and 1918. Very good to fine. WITH: MARIE-JEAN-LUCIEN LACAZE (1860-1955) French admiral, minister of Marine and, briefly, Minister of War in 1916. World War II date A.L.S. 3pp. 8vo., [Paris], July 30, 1944, on letterhead of the Academie Francaise to an unidentified correspondent, likely an editor, regarding the publication of a work. Together with: an interesting A.L.S. signed ‘Cap. G. Guesdon' on letterhead of the Circle of the Suez Canal, 1p. 4to., March 10, 1940, to the newspaper ‘Revue des Deux Mondes', in part: ‘…I hope you have received my latest submission, ‘Stories of Navigators' in which I have tried to highlight the devouring mentality of Nazi navigators, as it appeared to me during my conversations aboard their ships. I also wish to warn the Italians against too much docility towards the Reich. The Germans despise them and will take Trieste from them at the first opportunity…'. Offsetting at top edge and numerous pencil emendations, just good. Five pieces.

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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 + $10,000