Leipzig Mayor's Chain Discovered

[avis plumb]

What an incredible letter, can't get enough of these first hand accounts. Thanks for posting.

[Br. James]

Dr. Alfred Freyberg, the last to wear this Chain of Office, was certainly a committed Nazi. He was a practicing lawyer and an officer in the SD. On the day that Leipzig fell to the Allies, he committed suicide by poison (probably cyanide) while sitting at his desk in his office, together with his wife and his 18-year-old daughter. Stark reality.

Br. James

[JoeW]

Dr. Alfred Freyberg, the last to wear this Chain of Office, was certainly a committed Nazi. He was a practicing lawyer and an officer in the SD. On the day that Leipzig fell to the Allies, he committed suicide by poison (probably cyanide) while sitting at his desk in his office, together with his wife and his 18-year-old daughter. Stark reality.

Br. James

Isn't there a photo of that scene recorded somewhere? Or perhaps it was another Nazi public official and family dying in his office.

[PanzerJager1944]

Isn't there a photo of that scene recorded somewhere? Or perhaps it was another Nazi public official and family dying in his office.

Yes, there are actually numerous photos taken in the office of the suicides from multiple vantage points.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Some more things that came in today.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Another.

[CWP]

That letter... Wow.

[Craig Gottlieb]

There are other equally as compelling letters in the group we just got in today. There's also some confusion as to whether or not the above photo, showing the dead official and his family, is actualy Freyberg, or someone else. Is there any conclusive proof either way, exactly who it is?

[Br. James]

Yes, Joe; just Google "Alfred Freyberg" and you'll find another photo of the death scene, perhaps a more common one than that posted by PanzerJager1944. Great to see that one, too: many thanks to PanzerJager1944!

Br. James

[Michael Miller]

Great thread.
Here's a little more on the man.

Bruno Erich Alfred Freyberg
SS-Gruppenführer

Born: 12.07.1892 in Harsleben bei Halberstedt / Mecklenburg.
Suicide: 18.04.1945 in his office, Leipzig / Sachsen (together with his wife and daughter.
NSDAP-Nr.: 5 880 (Joined 27.05.1925)
SS-Nr.: 113 650 (Joined 22.11.1933)
Promotions:
03.03.1917 Leutnant d. R.
00.00.1922 Regierungsassessor
01.08.1924 Regierungsrat
22.11.1933 SS-Obersturmbannführer
20.04.1934 SS-Standartenführer
01.01.1935 SS-Oberführer
09.11.1936 SS-Brigadeführer
21.08.1939-18.04.1945 Oberbürgermeister von Leipzig
12.07.1942 SS-Gruppenführer
Career:
00.00.1899-00.00.1904 Attended Volksschule in Harsleben.
00.00.1904-00.00.1911 Attended Realgymnasium in Halberstadt (graduated Oberprima and passed his Abitur).
00.00.1911-00.00.1914 Studied law at the Universities of Geneva, München, Königsberg, and Halle an der Saale.
00.00.1914-00.00.191_ Entered service as Kriegsfreiwilliger, assigned to Ersatz-Abteilung / Feldartillerie-Regiment 40.
00.00.191_-00.00.1917 Assigned to Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 6 (released from military service due to a severe heart condition).
00.00.1917-00.00.1918 Returned to his legal studies.
00.00.1918 Passed first state law examinations (Referendar-Examen) in Naumburg.
00.00.1918-00.00.1922 Employed as Referendar in Wernigerode, Halberstadt, and Naumburg.
00.00.1922-00.00.192_ Member of the Stahlhelm-Bund.
00.00.1922 Passed final state law examinations (Assessor-Examen), University of Berlin.
00.00.1922-00.00.1926 Employed successively as a Regierungsassessor in the Reich Financial Administration, in the Finance Office of Halberstadt, before the Finance Court of the State Finance Office in Magdeburg, and in the Finance Office of Quedlinburg.
01.08.1924-00.00.1925 Regierungsrat in the Finance Office of Quedlinburg.
27.05.1925 Joined the NSDAP.
00.05.1925-00.00.1927 Founder and Ortsgruppenleiter of the “Ortsgruppe Quedlinburg der NSDAP”.
00.00.1926 Discharged from the Finance Office of Quedlinburg, presumably due to his Nazi Party activities.
He also lost his pension rights.
00.00.1926-00.00.1929 Employed as an attorney in Quedlinburg.
00.00.1927-00.00.1929 Bezirksleiter of the “Bezirk Quedlinburg-Ballenstedt der NSDAP”.
00.11.1929-00.04.1932 Stadtverordneter of the Stadtrat in Quedlinburg (and Fraktionsvorsitzender of the NSDAP Faction
therein).
00.00.1929-00.04.1932 Notary for the Oberlandesgericht (State Supreme Court) of Naumburg (Seat: Quedlinburg).
20.08.1932 Together with Gauleiter Wilhelm Friedrich Loeper, founded the first “Freiwilligen Arbeitsdienst” (Voluntary Labor Service) branch to be granted government recognition (at Schloss Grosskühnau northwest of Dessau).
21.05.1932-00.01.1940 Ministerpräsident of Freistaat Anhalt. He was the first National-Socialist to head a State
Government in Germany.
00.00.1933-00.01.1940 “Gaubeauftragter für Kirchenfragen” (Gau Representative for Church Questions) in Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt.
22.07.1933 Joined the SS.
00.00.1933-00.00.19__ Member of the Wirtschaftsrat (Economic Council) of the “Deutschen Auslands-Instituts”
(German Foreign Institute) in Stuttgart.
22.11.1933-20.04.1934 Assigned to I.Sturmbann / 59.SS-Standarte.
00.00.193_-00.00.19__ Ehrengauarbeitsführer of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in Arbeitsdienst-Gau XIII.
20.04.1934-12.07.1942 Assigned to the SD-Hauptamt (redesignated Reichssicherheitshauptamt, 27.09.1939).
00.00.1934-00.00.1939 Leiter of the Staatspolizeistelle in Dessau.
29.03.1936-18.04.1945 Member of the Reichstag (Wahlkreis 10, Magdeburg).
22.08.1939-18.04.1945 Oberbürgermeister of Leipzig (temporary appointment until 01.01.1940, then permanent). He succeeded Rudolf Haake.
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Chairman of the Board, “Anhaltischen Studiengesellschaft GmbH”, Dessau.
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Vorsitzender of the Verwaltungsrat for the “Hygienischen Instituts Anhalt” (Anhalt Hygiene Institute) in Dessau.
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Vorsitzender of the Verwaltungsrat of the “Reichsmesseamt” (Reich Survey Office), the “Deutsche Justiz Institut für Landerkunde” (German Justice Institute for State Investigations), and the “Prüfungsamtes für diplom Kaufleute” (Testing Office for Qualified Business People).
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Member of the Board and head of the “Alfred-Freyberg-Stiftung-Asid Werk-Gemeinschaft, Dessau.”
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Präsident of the “Deutsch-Japanischen Gesellschaft” (German-Japanese Society).
00.00.19__-00.00.19__ Leiter of the Leipzig branch office of the “Reichsverbandes Deutscher Verwaltungs-Akademien” (Reich Association of German Administrative Academies).
12.07.1942-15.10.1942 Assigned to the staff of the Reichsführer-SS.
15.10.1942-18.04.1945 Attached to the staff of SS-Oberabschnitt Elbe.
Decorations & Awards:
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.194_ Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse ohne Schwerter
00.00.1942 Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter
ca. 1934 Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern
ca. 1934 Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
00.00.19__ Ehrendolch der SS
[01.12.1937] Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
[01.12.1937] Totenkopfring der SS
00.00.193_ SS-Zivilabzeichen (Nr. 44 595)
16.12.1935 Julleuchter der SS
00.02.1934 Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer
17.03.1943 Grand Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania
Notes:
* Son of a farmer.
* Religion: Protestant until 09.04.1941, then declared himself “gottgläubig.”
* Married on 11.07.1920 to Magdalene Schwanneke born 16.02.1896 in Ringalheim / suicide 18.04.1945 in Leipzig; NSDAP-Nr. 795 969; NSV-Nr. 130). One son born 23.09.1923) and one daughter born 02.09.1925 / suicide in Leipzig, 18.04.1945).
* Height: 5 ft., 11 in (180 cm).
Reference:
Miller, Michael D.: Leaders of the SS & German Police, Volume I. R. James Bender Publishing, 2006.

[rschumann]

Very interesting piece

For the hometown of Leipzig, Leipzig, and as something beautiful piece of history

[Craig Gottlieb]

I am pleased to report that the Leipzig Mayor's chain was sold at the Show of Shows. A collector made a pre-auction offer, which was accepted by the family. As part of the deal, the buyer is going to be able to connect directly with the seller, which is something that many collectors do not have the opportunity to do. Congratulations to both parties!

[erichcraciun]

A very interesting letter.

The author is probably writing about ht HJ Schar that was defending the Völkerschlachtdenkmal (commemorating the battle around Leipzig in 1813-the European coallition against Napoleon).

I am sad to hear that the Bürgermesiterkette never made it back to Leipzig or, as I can imagine, Stadt Leipzig was not very interested.

I did see this online - though I am not sure from what year it is:

"Bürgermeisterkette der Stadt Leipzig
1933 - 1945
Silber. 35 Kettenglieder mit den Symbolen Leipzigs als bedeutende Messe-, Industrie- und Handelsstadt, in der sich der Sitz des Reichgerichtes, zahlreiche bedeutende Verlage, eine der renommiertesten Universitäten und die älteste Musikhochschule Deutschlands befanden. Anhängendes Medaillon mit dem Leipziger Stadwappen - schwarzer, steigender Löwe der Markgrafen von Meißen und die zwei blauen Pfähle der Markgrafen von Landsberg. Rückseitig zwei Befestigungshaken, Meisterzeichen, Feingehalt "835" und Nummer "27". Länge 52,5 cm, Gewicht 630 g.
Provenienz: Sammlung Keith Wilson, Kansas City.
Bedeutendes Objekt zur Geschichte Leipzigs.

Zustand: I-"


Anyone know where this is now?

Erich

[i.spring]

was the local government in Leipzig even notafied of this amazing discovery ?
I know I sent them one email with on reply sadly.
When I spotted this first on Craigs facebook page last year, I thought that is reall an important part of Leipzig history that should be on shown to everyone, not just a rich collector in the states.

Fantastic that it surfaces, very sad that money dominated this deal and not historcail context.... VERY SAD....

Ian aus Leipzig.

[Romaine]

Craig, I would really like to talk to you about this chain as I am in possession of one that is identical to it. I am interested in learning more about the one you posted about as I think both of them were probably taken at the same time. Mine was purchased over 40 years ago in an estate sale in NY/NJ my brother in law held onto it for all those years knowing it was an object of value but having no idea what it really was. I started researching its origins last week and found this thread. When I saw the pictures you posted I knew I had found the person who could help me understand more about it. Its an amazing piece. I can't wait to share more information with my family. Thanks.
-Romaine