Leipzig Mayor's Chain Discovered

[Craig Gottlieb]

Don't I wish. By "SS Armband" I meant a standard officer's brassard.

[STH23]

Very Nice Neck Chain, I would hate to wear that all day

[Craig Gottlieb]

Yeah, a pound and a half of silver ... not something you wanna wear all day.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Here's a "letter home" from the veteran. Quite a letter.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Last page.

[PanzerJager1944]

That is one hell of a letter, very interesting to read those first hand combat accounts, very descriptive.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Yes, letters like this remind us that there existed a brutal shooting-war between Germans and Americans once. Brings "big H" history down to a personal level that is eventually forgotten as veterans pass on.

[ErichS]

That is one hell of a letter, very interesting to read those first hand combat accounts, very descriptive.

First hand history at it's best and luckily the letter wasn't lost to time.

[Thorsten B.]

Indeed an amazing letter - war is hell!

[Craig Gottlieb]

I will have more documentation arriving tomorrow, and will post anything interesting.

[WalterB]

Turning out to be a great grouping.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Agreed, I can't wait to read through the additional material tomorrow, when it comes in.

[Stan]

Wow, what a letter....

Stan

[chrischa]

Wow, what a letter....

Stan

Yes, exactly what I thought.

Brave to be firing the machine gun mounted on the tank in that situation.

Thanks for showing this.

Chris.

[JoeW]

Leipzig had three Nazi Bürgermeisters:

Rudolf Haake 1. April 1937–11. October 1937 and 11. October 1938–20. August 1939

Walter Dönicke 12. Oktober 1937–11. Oktober 1938

Alfred Freyberg 21. August 1939–18. April 1945

They all died in April 1945.

And they had one very famous predecessor: Carl Goerdeler. Goerdeler was a conservative politician elected Lord High Mayor of Leigzig in May of 1930. From that position he saw the collapse of the Weimar era and the growth of Nazism. His biography is interesting to read. He came in conflict with the Nazi elements like Haake who came into the Leipzig government. Failing in his efforts to moderate Nazi policy he resigned on March 31, 1937. It would seem the Mayor's chain was designed for the new political order of the Mayor's office. As we know, Goerdeler became involved in the Resistance in Germany, eventually caught in the aftermath of the July 20 Plot and was executed Feb 2, 1945.