Himmler in Holland May 1942

[JONATHAN]

Hi

Just wanted to know if anyone can throw any more light on this series of kriegsberichter photos I have in my collection. A number are dated 17th May 1942, I believe these show Himmler's trip to the Hague for a swearing in ceremony of the Dutch SS - is this correct ?

Thanks
Jonathan

[JONATHAN]

hopefully these are the right way up

[JONATHAN]

oh well, apologies but my photo skills are sadly lacking...

[JONATHAN]

a few individual shots

[JONATHAN]

more

[JONATHAN]

and more

[JONATHAN]

not sure who the shifty looking nsdap guy is ?

[JONATHAN]

big wigs including hh, rauter and seyss inquart

[JONATHAN]

backs of a couple

[Bob Clark]

hello....the "shifty NSDAP Guy" is Fritz Schmidt. He was the NSDAP plenipotentiary in Holland. Your press photos document the period before his untimely demise, where he threw himself off of a train (or was thrown off not of his accord) in 1943, after a bitter power struggle with Rauter and the SS in Holland. Nice Find!

[JONATHAN]

Hi Bob, thanks very much for that, I'll have to look him up

[Erik]

Yes this is Den Haag for 100%. The pictures shown the city centre and the ball room in the old zoo (the big hall in the pictures with the ceremony). The complete Zoo was closed and trashed in the 1960-ies.

Erik

[N.C. Wyeth]

Amongst the ceremony, this is something not seen often . . .

[max history]

Now these are nice RFSS photos, not widely circulated. Thank you.
Max.

[JONATHAN]

Yes this is Den Haag for 100%. The pictures shown the city centre and the ball room in the old zoo (the big hall in the pictures with the ceremony). The complete Zoo was closed and trashed in the 1960-ies.

Erik

Interesting, thanks