Rohm Book.

[RzM]

Hi,

I picked up this Ernst Rohm book this weekend; "Wehr In Ehr".
I wanted to know if anyone had one of these, are they rare? I always assumed most Rohm items were either destroyed or had his name taken off SA daggers. Any idea of the value? Let me know. Thanks.

Best,

John

[RzM]

More pics.

[Jock Auld]

John,

You don't see them often.

I have a later issue (5th) dated 1934.

The only difference I can see outwardly is the title on the spine has been turned 90 degrees and mine appears fatter so perhaps smaller?

Ironic title for the book?

Value, don't know, mine came out of the paper skip!

Regards

Jock

[Albrecht]

Die Geschichte eines Hochverräters

Hello,

This book, Die Geschichte eines Hochverräters, is available via online antiquarian book dealers in Germany, listed between €45 - €175 , depending on condition and printing edition. When I checked there were a dozen or so copies listed. Likely not common in the united states.

If you are curious, it is relatively simple to research german books on this website for example:
www.buchfreund.de

Hope this helps

[RzM]

Thanks guys. It's in excellant shape I think the worst part of the book is bottom of page picturing Rohm & Hitler. I paid $10.00 for it. Thought it was different. I appreciate the help.

[Albrecht]

Wappen

It's a nice looking book. Would be curious to learn if the Wappen on the cover with the motto was Röhm's assumed heraldic crest.

[BrianK]

You got a bargain at $10.

[Br. James]

Hi John,

Here I must show my ignorance: I've never seen this book before nor did I know that Ernst Röhm wrote it. The wording on the spine and title page, which I translate as "The Story of a High Traitor," is confusing to me; I first thought that the book was published as a condemnation of Röhm and the SA leadership after the Night of Long Knives, but then I noticed that the book was published in 1933 by Eher Verlag, the NSDAP's own publishers. So I am curious as to who Röhm was describing as a "High Traitor?" The complicated design on the book's hard cover includes the phrase: "Fight Back in Honor," which seem to be some sort of a family crest on motto. Röhm came from a middle-class background, so the presence of a family crest seems either unlikely or jumped-up, such as Joachim 'von' Ribbentrop's parentage would indicate, so here too I am at a loss as to how these pieces fit together. But all in all, very interesting! Perhaps others familiar with this book can provide an overview of what it contains?

Br. James

[GHP]

It's a nice looking book. Would be curious to learn if the Wappen on the cover with the motto was Röhm's assumed heraldic crest.

I think so. Here is his desk seal with an intaglio engraving of the same armorial bearings:

I cannot tell what the principal tinctures are; primary is probably OR [gold] or ARGENT [silver]; the chief is probably Gules [red], as distinguished by the vertical lines. The term "proper" means the charge's natural color.

I'm guessing the blazon would be something similar to the following:
Arms: [Metal] and [Color] a filot throughout counterchanged, and on a chief Gules an antique sword [Metal] fesswise point to sinister
Crest: An owl affronty wings displayed proper [but could be a color]
Motto: Wehr In Ehr [Defense in Honor]

(Wiki Translate) personal signet
Bronze, silver plated. The handle in the form of an ancient armor with command staff and field signs, the helmet with griffin crest. Bronze base. In the sealing surface fitting emblem Roehm over stylized swastika and helmet with bird and bandeau, to his motto "defense in honor." Overall height 10.5 cm.
Ernst Röhm, one of the early supporters of Hitler, who on his return from Bolivia in 1930 appointed head of the SA. Despite successful Roehm, paramilitary extension of the SA, Hitler had him in a staged "Putsch" murder.
Roehm's emblem is also the blue cloth cover of his book "The Story of a traitor."
Provenance: ZAM - Centre for Unusual Museums, Munich. Issued under inventory number 34 in the exhibition "The seal in my hand - signets important people of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century." from 23.7. to 15.11.2001. To the former issue cards, a seal impression, three color photos and a copy of a press letter for the issue of the former museum director.

--Guy

[Gerdan]

"The story of a High Traitor" was written by Röhm himself 1928 as an autobiography of his life.

Indeed he was a "High Traitor" because after the failed coup 1923 ("Hitler Putsch") in which he took

part Röhm was condemnet to 5 month imprisonment as "hight traitor".

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

I found this text which may explain Röhm's situation after the failed coup better than I could do it in my words:

"Röhm took part in the failed Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923. He was still an army officer but resigned his commission after spending some time in prison prior to his trial. In February 1924, Röhm was found guilty of treason and was sentenced to a suspended 15 months in prison. In effect, he was given a conditional discharge. "

So officially Röhm was a "high traitor". So the title of his book is surely ment in an ironic way.

Gerdan

[Br. James]

Many thanks to Gerdan and to Guy for this teaching...and learning...opportunity! I had no idea that this biography of Röhm existed, let alone was published by Eher Verlag in two editions -- the First Edition in 1928 and a second edition in 1933. I wonder whether the photos in the later edition were the same as included in the First Edition, or where the original pix were supplemented in the second edition? I would expect so, since the 1928 First Edition could only have included photos of Röhm taken up to November 1923, though I note from John's original posting that there were later photos in his copy of the 1933 edition.

I am grateful for Guy's providing the skilled heraldry background represented in Röhm's seal, though I am still amazed as to why he would have such a thing created in the first place! I suppose feelings of personal grandure have no bounds!

Br. James