Lot 8881

Description

The guestbook features a brown leather binding, a waffle-piqué pattern, and the Berlin coat of arms. It contains an introductory dedication by Bleckwenn dated April 15, 1945, marking a visit by Grand Admiral Dönitz, including his handwritten signature in ink (“Bleckwenn”), as well as numerous officers' signatures commemorating Bleckwenn's 20th service anniversary (he had become a police trainee in Hildesheim on April 16, 1925). Signatories include General of the Infantry Martin Gareis (Knight's Cross 1943), Commander of the XXXVI Panzer Corps; Colonel von und zu Gilsa (Commander of Panzer Artillery Regiment 18); and the following autographs from the period of British captivity: General of the Infantry Walter Hörnlein on May 15, 1945 (Knight's Cross 1941, German Cross in Gold and Oak Leaves 1943), with the added note “formerly Commanding General of the XXVII Army Corps”; Major General Erich Fronhöfer (Knight's Cross 1941); Lieutenant General Edgar Feuchtinger; Lieutenant General Edmund Blaurock (Knight's Cross and German Cross in Gold 1944, Oak Leaves 1945); Lieutenant General Siegfried von Rekowski; Major General Adolf Gerlach; General of the Infantry Kurt von Tippelskirch (Knight's Cross 1941, Oak Leaves 1944); Lieutenant General Rudolf Meltzer; Major General Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand; General of Panzer Troops Hasso von Manteuffel (Knight's Cross 1941, Oak Leaves 1943, Swords 1944, Diamonds 1945); General of the Infantry Friedrich-August von Schack (Knight's Cross 1941, Oak Leaves 1944); and others (all dated May 1945). The photo album containing family snapshots and images of Bleckwenn from the 1920s (in civilian clothes), a police ID photo, and pictures showing him as a young officer, at parades and exercises, at the Westwall, and at the front; also includes photos of car races, destroyed villages, tanks, prisoners of war, and much more. Contains over 180 photos of various sizes; the arrangement appears non-chronological, and some images are missing. Landscape-format faux-leather binding. In April 1944, while serving as a Colonel and commander of Infantry Regiment 487, Wilhelm Bleckwenn was awarded the Knight's Cross for his support of the 31st Infantry Division near Gomel on the Eastern Front; he received the Oak Leaves in October 1944. On March 1, 1945, he transferred to the Naval High Command (OKM) and became commander of the 1st Naval Infantry Division. He was taken prisoner by the US Army near Schwerin on May 2, 1945.

Condition: II Questions about the lot?