Hitler's signature

[mdh]

I have read that Hitler rarely signed anything apart from top end award documents, how true is this ?, is there any proof for the auto-pen theory

[Br. James]

Hello mdh, and welcome among us -- it's good to have you here!

In my opinion, Hitler signed many documents and photographs according to his several responsibilities in government and in the NSDAP, and he signed autographs whenever convenient to him. What is not true, IMO, is that he used the service of the autopen. As far as I am aware, Hitler either signed a document directly or his signature was printed -- if a formal or State document was involved.

Br. James

[mdh]

Thank you, it's a real pleasure to be here, I myself have never believed the auto-pen theory or the ink stamp one either, I believe Hitler's signed a good many documents which is attested too by his staff what I don't understand is how the auto pen theory came about and who started that rumour, Rgds

[Erich B.]

Although pantograph style signature machines were developed in the early 19th century, they were not in readily used until the 20th century. In the U.S., for example, the auto pen/"Robot Pen" was not in general use until the late 40s. I'm not sure where the idea that Hitler used an auto pen machine started, but I first began hearing it around the early 1980s. I haven't been able to locate any information about their history in Germany.
Erich

[mdh]

That was about the time I heard about it, wherever Hitler's signature comes into play the autopen is added , I have yet to see a picture of one or the template used and there are no accounts in the history of one being seen or used by his subordinates also no one ever said they had manufactured one for him

[nick-j]

If you do a search on KC mappe's you will see that a smaller percentage were hand signed by AH and the majority were done by some method that replicated his identical signature every time - the consensus of opinions believe that this was done by auto pen of some kind

[mdh]

It's amazing that after all these years and how much more technologically advanced we are there are still mysteries such as this

[Br. James]

Hitler is not the only historical character whose signature has been attributed to autopen; I've seen Göring's signature so classified, as well as several other prominent Nazis, and I've also seen the comment that FDR's signature was regularly rendered by autopen. If Erich B's last comment is true -- that "the auto pen/"Robot Pen" was not in general use until the late 40s" -- then FDR's 'familiar spirit' must have kept quite busy...!!

We regularly read that Hitler actually signed few documents and even fewer autographs -- especially the kind found on photo-postcards -- but if the volume of documents, photos and cards purportedly signed by Hitler as found on all of the major auction house sites is factual, then that statement is far less than factual!

Cheers, friends,

Br. James

[markus]

Kalligraph

Most of the (normal) Ritterkreuz formal award documents were signed by an employee of the Reichsdruckerei using a template.

There's a postwar report by Korvettenkapitän Merten from the final days of the war who met this older man at the Reichskanzlei by coincidence one night. Together they looked up the officer's two formal award documents (KC & OL) so he could take them home with him.

There were piles of finished formal documents in their carton boxes, if I recall the story correctly.

Cheers,
Markus

[kahle33]

I once read a rumor that most of the hand signed documents by Hitler (stuff that isn't a stamp), is actually not signed by him at all but by an assistant that had his signature down. Just a rumor. I hope it isn't true or me and others are holding onto a bunch of fakes.

I believe the stuff I have is likely real simply because I have 3 documents from 1940, 1943, and 1945 and you watch the signature get smaller and smaller and more and more shaky, corresponding well with his downfall. So I have to believe he signed that stuff.

[mdh]

I myself believe that he did sign a large amount of documents as bourne out by his secretaries who said he spent 1-2 hours on state work each day and his ethos was to be seen as a man of the people so what better way than presenting an award signed by himself so even if he spent half an hour signing his name that could produce a load of documents

[Jeremy]

Can anyone identify any reference books they have referred to which actually provide reliable commentary on this rather then I heard so and so, or I believe so and so?

[markus]

Can anyone identify any reference books they have referred to which actually provide reliable commentary on this rather then I heard so and so, or I believe so and so?

With regards to the signatures on formal award documents, the "Korvettenkapitän Merten" story I mentioned above is true and rather well known. That report is as close as anyone will get to the question of original and caligraph signatures on formal award documents.

Dealers and auction houses conviniently "forget" in their item descriptions (regular KC docs) that most were not signed by A.H. in person.

If you have worked or work in a position where you have to sign a lot of documents each day, you will understand what kind of "time-destructor" it is to sign piles of stuff. As the "Führer" it does not surprise me one bit that he outsourced the signature thing very quickly in 1942. The more "important" award documents OL and up he signed personally still, but not the lower grade.

Cheers,
Markus

[chen]

This is why Hitler personally signed KC document, not fascimile or autopen whatever, is more desirable.

[markus]

This is why Hitler personally signed KC document, not fascimile or autopen whatever, is more desirable.

Yes, but me personally I kinda like them both. Each for what they are.