New Document... but what is it?

[PaulR]

I won this baby for 9 Euro. Something tells me that I did really well. Anyway, it is signed by a Finance President. Does anyone have any ideas what the document was issued for? Is the identity of the signature possible?

[Richard]

It is a promotion document. I can't read the signature but it shouldn't be to hard to determine who was the Oberfinanzpräsident for Berlin in 1937.
Richard V

[PaulR]

Thanks Richard! I will try and do a Google search. Do you think that this is for a civilian or a military Wartime Specialist?

[Hank C.]

It appears to be for a tax accountant, and since it's 1937 not really military. 9 euro is a good price for it.

best
Hank

[PaulR]

Thanks Hank.

I have been doing a bit of poking around to try and figure out who signed this document... I cannot find a name, but what I did find was kinda disturbing.(based upon the search of the postion of Oberfinanzprazident for Berlin and the year 1937)

It seems highly likely that the person who signed this document could have had a very direct role in the fate of many Jews(being assigned to labor camps and etc. )

I hope that I am wrong!

Paul

[max history]

Thanks Hank.

I have been doing a bit of poking around to try and figure out who signed this document... I cannot find a name, but what I did find was kinda disturbing.(based upon the search of the postion of Oberfinanzprazident for Berlin and the year 1937)

It seems highly likely that the person who signed this document could have had a very direct role in the fate of many Jews(being assigned to labor camps and etc. )

I hope that I am wrong!

Paul

You almost certainly are wrong, but it would help if the document and signature could be seen.
Max.

[Simon O.]

The doc shows up for me Max..

I think you're probably right Paul, the head bean counter of Berlin in 1937 must have been implicated in things like the confiscation of Jewish property and assets.

[Chris Boonzaier]

The doc shows up for me Max..

I think you're probably right Paul, the head bean counter of Berlin in 1937 must have been implicated in things like the confiscation of Jewish property and assets.

I think the taxmen take EVERYBODIES proprty and assets.

If the SS were hated by the Jews and other victims of SS crimes .... the taxman is hated by everyone

[max history]

The doc shows up for me Max..

I think you're probably right Paul, the head bean counter of Berlin in 1937 must have been implicated in things like the confiscation of Jewish property and assets.

Simon,
The document now appears for me also.
I agree with you, but he was not directly linked to the transportation of Jews from Berlin. His role was relatively minor. The Finanzpräsident is basically the city treasurer, an administrator responsible for the collection of local taxes and the distribution of funds to various local government departments. He was a civil servant who would have been informed of the forced evacuation of people (mainly Jews) from Berlin after the event. It was the role of the Gestapo to implement the evacuation and to oversee (supervise) the action which would have been conducted by police, auxiliary police and in a few cases by the SS. The Gestapo would then inform the Finanzpräsident who had vacated which properties and would direct his office to arrange for the dispersal of remaining furniture, etc.
It might prove difficult to identify the signature as he was not an important personality in the Third Reich. Someone with access to records of the Berlin Finanz Amt might be able to succeed.
As to the value of the document...9 euros is a good price to obtain such an item, but its value does not stretch to much more.
Hope this helps.
Max.

[Hank C.]

I found one reference online, to who might be the signer:
http://www.bamf.de/nn_566222/SharedD...geschichte.pdf
It references (on page 6) Oberfinanzpräsident Zerhahn speaking at the opening of a new building.
Couldn't find anything else online, I guess 3rd Reich Banking history isn't a hugely sought after topic...

best
Hank

[PaulR]

Thanks everyone for your input. Especially Hank and Max. Despite the obscurity of this document, it is still a really nice piece that I am happy to have.

Again, I am not at all educated in this area. I thought that the finance department was involved with the use of forced labor, and like Simon stated, the confiscation of property and monetary assets.

I appreciate the clarification on the Role of both the awardee and the signer of this document.

It is amazing that this actual citation of advancement was awarded and brought home with pride to show his family.

I really love this stuff.

Chris,

Living in one of the most highly taxed states in the US(if not THE highest), I have no love for the taxman either!!! :-(

V.r
Paul