Lot 2036

Description

A sheet of A4 paper with the typewritten text of the OKW's special announcement on 10.06.40 regarding the surrender of the Norwegian troops and the permanent German occupation of the city Narvik. The original text with Hitler's handwritten corrections in pencil at five places in the script to produce a more heroic and dramatic account. Folded.
Over the winter months, Narvik's ice-free harbour largely secured the supply of the 22 million tonnes of iron and nickel ore that was so urgently needed by the German arms industry. During "Operation Weserübung", German mountain troops landed in Narvik under the command of General Dietl. Arriving just a few hours later, the 30,000-strong British expeditionary corps destroyed the German landing fleet at anchor in the fjord. The approx. 2,800 survivors joined forces with the approx. 2,000 mountain infantry to defend the city. Supplies were airdropped, along with approx. 600 paratroopers as reinforcements. When the city had to be evacuated after heavy fighting on 28 May, Hitler first contemplated retreating to Swedish territory. However, once Germany's west campaign got underway, the British corps were withdrawn on 8 June as reinforcements for the Allied troops in France. Thereupon, the Norwegian army surrendered on 9 June, enabling the Wehrmacht to re-occupy Narvik.

Provenance: From the estate of Wilhelm Schneider, who served as an orderly in the Leibstandarte in Hitler's "Wolfsschlucht" headquarters during the Battle of France, stating (tr.) "The Führer [.] demanded to see the report and changed it with a few pointed phrases, as was his wont, but quite against his usual practice, in his own handwriting". After the report was amended, he was permitted to keep the present copy by Oberst Scherf. The lot includes a confirmation to this effect and a sales receipt dated 1976.

Condition: II Questions about the lot?