Third Reich signatures.

[hucks216]

Hallo, Autograph Experten!

At a Redding, California antique mall the other day, I took an enormous risk and spent the absurdly high sum of $8.00 (eight dollars, U.S.)
Best,
~ Mike

Some sellers have absolutely no shame and will charge as much as they think they can get away with!

That sounds like one hell of a score - I am assuming the seller had no idea who the signature belonged to or if it was there in the first place?

[Michael Miller]

Photos of my Goebbels autograph.
Also, a confirmed Goebbels autograph (dedication photo to Charlotte Bechstein in silver frame- "Widmungsfoto im Silberrahmen") from Hermann-Historica.

Best,
~ Mike

[Michael Miller]

And another, of the following individual:


Walter Friedrich Julius K ö h l e r
20.04.1939-08.05.1945 Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP (ehrenhalber)
00.01.1933-00.00.1933 Gauleiter (m.d.W.d.G.b.) des Gaues Baden der NSDAP
00.08.1931-00.05.1933 Stellvertretender Gauleiter des Gaues Baden der NSDAP

Born: 30.09.1897 in Weinheim / Baden.
Died: 09.01.1989 in Weinheim / Baden.

NSDAP-Nr.: 8 246 (Joined 20.06.1925)

Promotions:
00.00.1916 Unteroffizier
00.00.1925-00.00.1932 Ortsgruppenleiter der NSDAP
00.00.1925-00.00.1927 Kreisleiter der NSDAP
00.08.1931-00.05.1933 Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP
00.01.1933-00.00.1933 Gauleiter (m.d.W.d.G.b.) der NSDAP
01.05.1937 SA-Brigadeführer
09.11.1938 SA-Gruppenführer
20.04.1939-08.05.1945 Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP (ehrenhalber)
09.11.1943 SA-Obergruppenführer

Career:
00.00.1904-00.00.1906 Attended Volksschule in Weinheim.
00.00.1906-00.00.1912 Attended Realgymnasium in Weinheim (graduated Obersekunda, 00.00.1912).
00.00.1912-00.00.1914 Served an apprenticeship in banking with the “Vorschussverein Ladeburg”.
00.08.1914-01.07.1916 Entered service as a Kriegsfreiwilliger, assigned to Reserve-Regiment / Leibgrenadier-Regiment 109 (deployed to the Western Front, 00.10.1914).
01.07.1916-00.00.1918 Wounded and captured by British troops, then interned. As a prisoner of war, he was assigned to labor operations in Rotterdam.
End of 1918-00.00.1933 Employed in his parents’ colonial produce wholesale business in Weinheim, ultimately becoming its owner.
00.00.1918-00.00.1923 Member of the "Deutschnationale Volkspartei" (DNVP).
00.00.1919-ca. 1922 Member of the “Deutschvölkischen Schutz- und Trutzbundes”.
00.00.1919-00.00.192_ Member of the “Organisation Damm”.
00.00.1923-00.00.1924 Member of the "Völkischen Blocks".
20.06.1925 Joined the NSDAP.
00.06.1925 Cofounder of the “Ortsgruppe Weinheim der NSDAP”.
00.00.1925-00.00.1932 Ortsgruppenleiter of the “Ortsgruppe Weinheim der NSDAP”.
00.00.1925-00.00.1927 Kreisleiter of "Kreis Weinheim der NSDAP".
00.00.1925-00.00.1927 SA-Führer in Weinheim.
14.11.1926-00.00.1929 Stadtverordneter in Weinheim.
00.00.1927-00.00.19__ Employee of the NSDAP Gau Baden newspaper “Führer” in Karlsruhe.
27.10.1929-00.00.1933 Member of the "Badischen Landtages" (State Parliament of Baden; representing the 19. Wahlkreis, Landkreis Mannheim Weinheim).
00.11.1929-00.00.1933 1.Vorsitzender (1st Chairman) of the "NSDAP-Fraktion des Badischen Landtages".
00.08.1931-00.05.1933 Stellvertretender Gauleiter of "Gau Baden der NSDAP”. Succeeded Karl Lenz. Post apparently vacant from 00.05.1933 to 00.00.1934, then assumed by Hermann Röhn.
00.01.1933-00.03.1933 Gauleiter (m.d.W.d.G.b.) of "Gau Baden der NSDAP”. Held this post during the temporary absence of Robert Wagner.
05.03.1933-08.05.1945 Member of the Reichstag (Wahlkreis 32, Baden).
11.03.1933-10.04.1933 “Badischen Finanzminister” (Finance Minister of Baden; “kommissarisch mit der Wahrnehmung der Geschäfte beauftragt” [temporarily charged with the conduct of business]).
19.04.1933-05.05.1933 Leiter ("mit der kommissarischen Leitung beauftragt") of the "Badischen Finanz- und Wirtschaftsministeriums".
06.05.1933-14.06.1945 “Badischer Ministerpräsident” (Prime Minister of Baden).
06.05.1933-14.06.1945 Vorsitzender of the “Badischen Staatsministeriums” (Baden Ministry of State).
06.05.1933-14.06.1945 “Badischer Minister der Finanzen und Wirtschaft” (Minister of Finance and Economy).
06.05.1933-14.06.1945 Präsident of the “Badischen Staatsrates” (Baden State Council).
00.00.1933 Appointed as a member of the “Kulturrates des Deutschen Auslands-Instituts” (Cultural Council of the German Foreign Institute) in Stuttgart.
00.00.1934-31.12.1942 Leiter of the "Wirtschaftskammer [Chamber of Economics] Baden" in Karlsruhe.
00.00.193_-14.06.1945(?) Held the following business and industry posts in Baden:

Stellvertretender Vorsitzender: "Grubenvorstandes der Gewerkschaft Baden", Buggingen / Baden; "Gewerkschaft Markgräflerm", Buggingen / Baden; "Badenwerk AG", Karlsruhe; "Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG", Rothaus; "Vereinigte Badische Staatssalinen Dürrheim Rappenau AG", Bad Rappenau; “Badischen Bank”, Karlsruhe
Mitglied des Aufsichtsrates: “Badische AG für Rheinschifffahrt und Seetransport”, Mannheim; “Stollberger Zink AG für Bergbau- und Hüttenbetrieb [mining and smelting plants]”, Aachen.

14.03.1935 Appointed as Leiter (together with Fritz Kiehn) of the "Wirtschaftskammer" (Economic Chamber) for the "Wirtschaftsbezirk Südwestdeutschland" (Economic District Southwestern Germany), and eventually Leiter of the "Wirtschaftskammer" for Baden in Karlsruhe.
03.07.1935-10.07.1935; Participated in training exercises with Infanterie-Regiment Konstanz (Base: Villingen).
02.08.1935-17.08.1935;
& 30.08.1935-03.09.1935
23.10.1936-00.00.1937 "Bearbeiter der Rohstoffverteilung" of the Vierjahresplan (Four-Year Plan) and Leiter of the “Geschäftsgruppe Rohstoffverteilung” attached to the “Beauftragten für den Vierjahresplan” (Hermann Göring). In his “First Decree on the Execution of the Four-Year Plan, issued 24.10.1936 and published in the “Völkischer Beobachter”, Hermann Göring described Köhler’s duties in this post as follows:

“2. The distribution of raw materials will be handled by Ministerpräsident Köhler of Baden, as commissioner for the distribution of raw materials in conjunction with the Reichsministry of Economics and the Reichsdevisenstelle [Reich Office for .
Ministerpräsident Köhler is responsible to me for the proper distribution of the raw materials to the various requirements taking into consideration their urgency, and for corresponding work on the part of the supervisory agency; by my orders, he also will handle all questions having to do with the importation of foreign raw materials in cooperation with the competent departments or the agencies which I shall charge with the carrying out of transactions for the purpose of procuring raw materials.”

01.05.1937-00.05.1945 Assigned as an ehrenamtlicher SA-Führer z. V.to SA-Gruppe Südwest (redesignated SA-Gruppe Oberrhein, 00.00.1942).
12.07.1937 Appointed as a member of the “ständigen Beirats für die Reichsfestspiele Heidelberg” (permanent advisory council for the Reich Festival in Heidelberg).
20.04.1939 Appointed as a "Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP (ehrenhalber)".
22.09.1939-04.04.1945(?) Member of the Verteidigungsrates (Defense Council) of Wehrkreis V.
08.08.1940 23.11.1944 Leiter of the "Finanz- und Wirtschaftsabteilung" (Department of Finance and Economics) to the "Chef der Zivilverwaltung in Elsass" (Robert Wagner) in Strassburg.
00.00.1942-04.04.1945 Vorsitzender of the “Rüstungskommandos Oberrhein” (Armaments Command Upper Rhine).
00.00.1942 Appointed as a "Wehrwirtschaftsführer".
01.01.1943-04.04.1945 Präsident of the "Gauwirtschaftskammer Oberrhein".

Postwar Prosecution & Activities:
Arrested by French troops in Karlsruhe, 04.04.1945. Formally removed from all of his posts, 14.06.1945. Rearrested by the U.S. Army’s 84 CIC Detachment on 11.07.1945 and interned at Camp 74 in Ludwigsburg. He was then transferred to 7th Army Interrogation Center in Augsburg, arriving there on 08.08.1945. According to an interrogation report dated 27.08.1945 and signed by the Center’s commander, Major Paul Kubala:

“When Allied troops approached KARLSRUHE, source [Köhler] was ordered to leave town. Because of his ‘clean conscience’, he felt that flight was unnecessary. Consequently, he was condemend to death by GAULEITER [Robert] WAGNER for refusing to obey orders…. KOEHLER appears to be a cooperative prisoner, in spite of his confirmed belief in Nazi ideology.” (Source: Interrogation Records Prepared for War Crimes Proceedings at Nuernberg, 1945-1947/OCCPAC Interrogation Transcripts And Related Records: Koehler, Walter; Publication Number M1270, Record Group RG238)

Köhler remained in custody until 04.05.1948. Briefly employed as commercial representative for cloth with the “Marx” firm, 1948. Classified by the Spruchkammer in Karlsruhe as a “Minderbelasteter”, 20.10.1948. Classified by the Zentralberufungskammer in Karlsruhe as a “Belasteter” (offender), 18.04.1950, and sentenced to 3 years in a labor camp (sentence deemed to have been already served during his internment from 1945 to ’48). In 1952, he became an insurance representative in Weinheim, later heading an insurance office in Karlsruhe. He was granted a government pension during the 1960’s.

Decorations & Awards:
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.194_ Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse ohne Schwerter
00.00.194_ Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter
ca. 1918 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
ca. 1934 Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern
00.00.193_ Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
00.00.193_ Goldenes Gauehrenzeichen des Gaues Baden der NSDAP
ca. 1940 Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber
ca. 1940 Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
ca. 1936 Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen II. Klasse
00.00.193_ Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer (SA)
09.05.1933 Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Karlsruhe

Notes:
* Son of the salesman Julius Köhler (born 02.03.1849 in Weinheim, died 01.09.1916) and his wife Anna, née Maier (born 03.09.1856 in Bonndorf).
* Religion: Protestant.
* Married on 02.05.1925 to Emilie Reinhard (born 06.03.1905 in Weinheim).
* Address as of 09.11.1943: Weinheim / Bergstrasse, Adolf-Hitler-Strasse 1.

Sources:
Kienast, Ministerialdirigent Ernst (Editor):Der Grossdeutsche Reichstag, IV.Wahlperiode, Beginn am 10.04.1938 verlängert bis zum 30. Januar 1947. Berlin, November 1943.
Lilla, Joachim & Schulz, Andreas:
Statisten in Uniform. Die Mitglieder des Reichstags 1933-1945. Droste Verlag, 2004.
National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland:
“Interrogation Records Prepared for War Crimes Proceedings at Nuernberg, 1945-1947/OCCPAC Interrogation Transcripts And Related Records: Koehler, Walter”; Publication Number M1270, Record Group RG238.
Schulz, Andreas:
Biographical Notes from the archives of Herrn Schulz, Berlin, Deutschland.
Stockhorst, Erich:
5000 Köpfe: Wer war was im 3. Reich (3rd Edition). Arndt-Verlag, 1998.

[Max Williams]

Mike,
Your Goebbels appears to be 100% authentic. A superb find.
I do have a concern over the Köhler. Not its authenticity, but the way you have it stored. The clear plastic sleeve appears to be the type that contains harmful acid. If it's not, then you are OK, but if it is, the acid content will eventually attack not only the photo, but also the ink. All printed and handwritten material should only be stored in an acid free environment. It's always a good idea to confirm that plastic sleeves do not contain acid.
Regards,
Max.

[Ian Sayer]

Can anyone confirm which Stulpnagel this is please.
Many thanks
Ian

[hucks216]

If it is any help here is Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel's signature for comaprison purposes..

[valkyrie]

Here's my Carl Heinrich - I am sure its his writing and signature.

Colin

[Michael Miller]

Your Goebbels appears to be 100% authentic. A superb find.

Very belated thanks for the kind words and invaluable advice, Max.

Your friend,
~ Mike

[Ian Sayer]

Thanks for your help chaps. I've now put all the K H 's together (see attached) and I would like to invite comments on the comparison between them and the one I first posted.
Thanks
Ian

[valkyrie]

Interesting Ian....they could all be real I suppose. I think the most doubtful one is #4 the facsimile. BTW - I think mine is late-30's given the photo shows him as an OKH staff general OBQM II. The #5 from Hamilton has an atypical tail on the final "l". #1 & #3 seem to me to be the closest. The "G" on yours and mine (not part of the signature) seem to be the same as well.

Interesting to see what others say and your views too.

Colin

[hucks216]

It is really hard to say. It is like the signatures of Wilhelm & Bodewin Keitel in that they are very similar with just a few slight differences. From what I can see of the examples shown, with the sole exception of No 5, is that in the signatures of Carl-Heinrich the lead-in stroke of 'von' is the same whereas this stroke is missing from the one posted by Ian and on all the examples shown, including No 5 this time, the lead-in stroke of the S is the same which is again missing from the one posted by Ian. If I had to make a decision based on these points I would say that the one shown by Ian could be that of Otto von Stuplnagel, but unfortunately I don't have an example of his signature in my files to compare it with.

[valkyrie]

You could be right Hucks - I was inadvertnetly looking at #3 as Ian's rather than his earlier posting when comparing signatures so I see the differences you are talking about now. I don't think the initial in front of the "von" in Ian's example would be an "O" for Otto. Identifying this as an "H" or "K" would be useful.

It is still possible that Ian's is KHvS as writing this initial could break the flow of the von Stülpnagel and possible result in the frontal lead-in strokes being shortened or omitted.

Long story short - I am clearly not a handwriting expert.

Colin

[Ian Sayer]

Well thank you for both your contributions. I agrre with you Hucks on the lead in stroke on the 'von' and you might also have noticed that the same thing has happened with the S of Stulpnagel. That was exactly what was concerning me but reviewing the ALS from where the signature originates I have noticed that in other words beginning with S he writes it exactly as the S (with the lead in) which appears in all five examples. In addition his 'l' is identical to the L which features in my example 3 which comes from a 1938 signed photo. On that basis I think it is fair to say that this is an ALS of KHvS. I did wonder if it might have been Otto but I concur with Colin that it doesn't look that way. The other brother was Johann. I do have a post war example of his but it doesn't look like what appears to be the 'h' in my letter. Unfortunately the ALS is not dated so that isn't helpful either.

[valkyrie]

When you compare the later letters in Stülpnagel in your posted signature and the ones Hucks and I posted, I don't think there is much doubt that the formation, spacing and slope of the letters is the same. I would strongly agree with your conclusion that you have a KHvS ALS.

Colin

[Ian Sayer]

Thanks Colin
Best
Ian