Lot 4

ADOLF HITLER AND HERMANN GORING

Previous image preload Next image preload

ADOLF HITLER AND HERMANN GORING

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Current Bid: $2,250

(3 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

ADOLF HITLER AND HERMANN GORING
ADOLF HITLER (1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of Germany and Nazi Party leader, Hitler's bloody rise to power, his military seizure of most of Europe and North Africa and his genocidal racial policies culminated in suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops approached. Scarce and important set of documents regarding the appointment of FRITZ TODT to the role of Minister of Armaments and Munitions, and setting forth the chain of command thereafter. Includes: a T.L.S. signed by ADOLF HITLER, 1p. legal folio, Berlin, March 20, 1940o, on his official letterhead to the Commanders in Chief of the Army, Navy and Luftwaffe – Wilhelm Keitel, Karl Donitz and Hermann Goring. In part: ‘…1. The first administrative article for the…decree of March 17, 1940 concerning the appointment of Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions [Fritz Todt] sets forth the powers and areas of activity of [this role]…2. Requests of branches of the armed services made to the Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions, as occasioned by military necessities, will be received by the High Command of the Wehrmacht, according to my directives. 3. In the event that requests for munitions production runs the risk of conflicting with other urgent armament requirements, then a reconciliation of conflicting claims is to be accomplished by the Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions working the High Command of the Wehrmacht. If a satisfactory settlement cannot be effected, then my decision, in consultation with the Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions, is to be obtained…'. Fine condition. SOLD WITH: a cover letter to Goring from Wilhelm Keitel's adjutant forwarding Hitler's decree. The 1p. large 4to. 'SECRET' letter, sent from O.K.W. on Mar 20, 1940, is signed twice by HERMANN GORING. The letter notes: ‘…Herewith enclosed is a decree of the Fuhrer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht, dated March 20, 1940. The Reichsminister of Armament and Munitions has been directly informed…'. In the left margin, Goring signs off in blue pencil: ‘23/3 Go', and further down in the same margin adds in purple indelible pencil: ‘Field Marshal has taken note 27/3 Go'. With two additional dockets and receiving stamp. File holes in left margin, else fine.

Todt's appointment as Reichsminister of Armaments and Munitions came two days after Hitler's historic meeting with Mussolini at the Brenner Pass and during which he pressured Italy to join the war. The other than that event, fighting March 1940 was eerily quiet, leading the war-hungry press to dub it the ‘Phony War'. Behind the scenes, however, the gears of military movement were steadily turning: Hitler was actively preparing for the forthcoming invasion of France in May 1940, Molotov was discussing unresolved issues in Romanian Bessarabia with Stalin, and the Allies were considering the disruption of Germany's shipping route through Norway. Friedrich ‘Fritz' Todt (1891-1942) had been steadily making his way up the Nazi ranks since Hermann Goring had appointed him ‘Plenipotentiary for the Regulation of Construction' in 1938. Just 15 months later, he was appointed ‘Inspector General for Extraordinary Activities in the Four Year Plan'. As Reichsminister of Armaments and Munitions, Todt managed the entire military economy, doubling the munitions production in the first half of that year and earning Hitler's commendation as being the sole individual responsible for the enormous increase. But by February, 1942 , and with the increasingly grim reality that the invasion of Russia would fail, Todt found himself at odds with the Fuhrer who repeatedly refused to listen to his warning that the war against Russia could no longer be won without better supplies. Hitler rejected this assessment for a final time the night before the plane crash which violently ended Todt's life (Feb. 81, 1942), leading to the continuing speculation that the crash was more than just an accident of aviation. File holes at left with a pen docket at bottom right, else very good.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping, handling and insurance charges will be added to all invoices. Shipments are sent via FEDEX, USPS Express, USPS International Priority, and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Shipments will only be sent to the registered bidder address, re-routing shipments is not permitted. All shipments require a direct signature, no exceptions. Shipping to certain countries is extremely expensive and will be invoiced according to dimensional weight as required! By law the full value is required by customs for international shipments. Please inquire before bidding! International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding. 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.

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 + $10,000