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NEUENGAMME CONCENTRATION CAMP: An original carbon typed statement
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Description
NEUENGAMME CONCENTRATION CAMP: An original carbon typed statement, unsigned, two pages, 4to, Neustadt in Holstein, 12th July 1945, in German, being a witness statement provided to a War Crimes investigator by Waldemar Holle, a former political prisoner at Neuengamme concentration camp. The document states, in part, I, Waldemar Holle, the undersigned, former political prisoner no. 239, am in a position, as a result of my having worked for nearly three years as an interpreter for the Political Section at the Neuengamme concentration camp, to give the following account of the crimes committed personally by SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, the camp commandant, which are quite apart from his general responsibility for all the horrors which were perpetrated in the camp…..As early as the end of 1943, single prisoners, and at the beginning of 1944, a whole group of some 30 Soviet Russians, were to be released, o the instructions of the Gestapo headquarters in Munich and Stuttgart…The prisoners referred to did not set out for work on the day in question and waited to receive their clothes. Suddenly, the order of release was revoked, and the prisoners due to be freed were dispatched back to work again. I received orders that the record cards which had already been made out were to be put back in the camp files…No further notice at all was taken of the fixed length of time for which they had been sent there and of the dates of release. In this way, Pauly, by acting beyond his powers, and indeed, and with far more than the familiar ruthlessness of the Gestapo, retained in the concentration camp, of his own instructions, a large number of foreigners who had been moved to Germany, and delivered the usual percentage of them to their death there. It goes without saying that the so-called ‘commanders’ reports’ to the head office of the Reich Security Service, which were prepared by him and the thenhead of the preventive detention camp, (SS Obersturmfuhrer Thumann, and his predecessor, SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Lutkemeier), were an impudent tissue of lies, ignorance and hatred, with the regularity repeated conclusion that there were objections to the release of some particular political prisoner or, at least, that it was not recommended….The German prisoner, Willi Fahrisch, who was in preventive detention, was publicly hanged on the parade ground in 1943, on a charge of having stolen from the canteen, when he was with an outside working party, a bottle of wine and 80 cigarettes. He denied this right to the last, and declared that the cigarettes and the wine had been given to him by a German civilian worker on the site. No kind of proper judicial investigations, much less any legal proceedings, were put in train…Some month previously, Fahrisch had been punished by Pauli with corporal chastisement and by being put in the P.C., for his activities against a notorious spy and informer….Fahrisch’s last words, when the noose was already round his neck – ‘so long, pals’- were interrupted by Pauly saying ‘Shut up, you swine, you shit!’ Also as a result of a proposal and pressure by Pauly, a Pole was publicly hanged, because he was said to have assisted in the theft of several white loaves from the provision store. The actual thief had already been chased across the outpost line and shot….The tragic execution of our Belgian comrade, Pierre Tolnaare, for alleged sabotage at the Jastrom motor works, must equally be attributed to instigation by the camp commandant, since the whole affair was conducted internally,….At the same time, (after the large-scale raids of Hamburg), almost every day a heavy truck, (usually with a trailer), went to Hamburg and bought back from bombed houses there, on the commandant’s orders, iron girders, cooling and heating equipment, copper and iron pipes, baths and sundry building materials which were stringently controlled ‘in the hour of Germany’s greatest need’….The furniture installed there – all selected pieces, with an abundance of carving and inlay – the cigarette cases, the gold and silver objects of high artistic value etc. etc., were the outcome od stolen materials, stolen slave – labour and stolen energy. The thief was the selfsame Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, who brought so many prisoners to the gallows for a bottle of wine, or a few loaves of white bread, or for some ownerless scraps of banknote paper…Presumably in recognition of his success in this sphere, SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, who had never been at the front, was – after the July air raids on Hamburg – decorated with the Iron Cross 1st Class for courage in dealing with prisoners….I am ready to swear on oath to the truth of the account given above…..’. A statement of highly thought-provoking content accompanied by a full English translation. Some very light creasing and extremely minor age wear and with a paperclip rust stain and small staple holes to the upper left corner of each page. A small white numbered sticker is neatly affixed to the centre of the upper edge of the first page. About VG
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NEUENGAMME CONCENTRATION CAMP: An original carbon typed statement, unsigned, two pages, 4to, Neustadt in Holstein, 12th July 1945, in German, being a witness statement provided to a War Crimes investigator by Waldemar Holle, a former political prisoner at Neuengamme concentration camp. The document states, in part, I, Waldemar Holle, the undersigned, former political prisoner no. 239, am in a position, as a result of my having worked for nearly three years as an interpreter for the Political Section at the Neuengamme concentration camp, to give the following account of the crimes committed personally by SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, the camp commandant, which are quite apart from his general responsibility for all the horrors which were perpetrated in the camp…..As early as the end of 1943, single prisoners, and at the beginning of 1944, a whole group of some 30 Soviet Russians, were to be released, o the instructions of the Gestapo headquarters in Munich and Stuttgart…The prisoners referred to did not set out for work on the day in question and waited to receive their clothes. Suddenly, the order of release was revoked, and the prisoners due to be freed were dispatched back to work again. I received orders that the record cards which had already been made out were to be put back in the camp files…No further notice at all was taken of the fixed length of time for which they had been sent there and of the dates of release. In this way, Pauly, by acting beyond his powers, and indeed, and with far more than the familiar ruthlessness of the Gestapo, retained in the concentration camp, of his own instructions, a large number of foreigners who had been moved to Germany, and delivered the usual percentage of them to their death there. It goes without saying that the so-called ‘commanders’ reports’ to the head office of the Reich Security Service, which were prepared by him and the thenhead of the preventive detention camp, (SS Obersturmfuhrer Thumann, and his predecessor, SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Lutkemeier), were an impudent tissue of lies, ignorance and hatred, with the regularity repeated conclusion that there were objections to the release of some particular political prisoner or, at least, that it was not recommended….The German prisoner, Willi Fahrisch, who was in preventive detention, was publicly hanged on the parade ground in 1943, on a charge of having stolen from the canteen, when he was with an outside working party, a bottle of wine and 80 cigarettes. He denied this right to the last, and declared that the cigarettes and the wine had been given to him by a German civilian worker on the site. No kind of proper judicial investigations, much less any legal proceedings, were put in train…Some month previously, Fahrisch had been punished by Pauli with corporal chastisement and by being put in the P.C., for his activities against a notorious spy and informer….Fahrisch’s last words, when the noose was already round his neck – ‘so long, pals’- were interrupted by Pauly saying ‘Shut up, you swine, you shit!’ Also as a result of a proposal and pressure by Pauly, a Pole was publicly hanged, because he was said to have assisted in the theft of several white loaves from the provision store. The actual thief had already been chased across the outpost line and shot….The tragic execution of our Belgian comrade, Pierre Tolnaare, for alleged sabotage at the Jastrom motor works, must equally be attributed to instigation by the camp commandant, since the whole affair was conducted internally,….At the same time, (after the large-scale raids of Hamburg), almost every day a heavy truck, (usually with a trailer), went to Hamburg and bought back from bombed houses there, on the commandant’s orders, iron girders, cooling and heating equipment, copper and iron pipes, baths and sundry building materials which were stringently controlled ‘in the hour of Germany’s greatest need’….The furniture installed there – all selected pieces, with an abundance of carving and inlay – the cigarette cases, the gold and silver objects of high artistic value etc. etc., were the outcome od stolen materials, stolen slave – labour and stolen energy. The thief was the selfsame Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, who brought so many prisoners to the gallows for a bottle of wine, or a few loaves of white bread, or for some ownerless scraps of banknote paper…Presumably in recognition of his success in this sphere, SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Pauly, who had never been at the front, was – after the July air raids on Hamburg – decorated with the Iron Cross 1st Class for courage in dealing with prisoners….I am ready to swear on oath to the truth of the account given above…..’. A statement of highly thought-provoking content accompanied by a full English translation. Some very light creasing and extremely minor age wear and with a paperclip rust stain and small staple holes to the upper left corner of each page. A small white numbered sticker is neatly affixed to the centre of the upper edge of the first page. About VG
Autograph Auction
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-418
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Foxhall Business Centre
Foxhall Road
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG7 6LH
United Kingdom
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Once payment has been received in full we will be delighted to mail your puurchases to you. Lots are securely packed in house and shipments are generally made through the Royal Mail using one of their tracked services which will require a signature upon delivery. Overseas deliveries are sent via insured air mail will also require a signature upon delivery. If you require your package to be sent via couriers such as FedEx or DHL please advise us as this will incur additional costs.
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Important Information
Viewing is available the week prior to the auction at our Nottingham Offices, by appointment only.
Viewing is also available on the sale day at the Foxhall Business Centre, Nottingham from 9am
Terms & Conditions
Buyers Terms & Conditions
1. Interpretation
1.1. "Auctioneers" means " International Autograph Auctions Ltd. "
1.2. "Catalogue" means the brochure relating to a sale (including any addendum thereto) and any other related documents and advertisements.
1.3. "Conditions" means these terms and conditions of sale
1.4. "Hammer Price" means the price at which a lot is knocked down by the Auctioneers to the Purchaser.
1.5. "Purchaser" means the person who purchases a lot or lots pursuant to these conditions.
1.6. "Seller" means the person who is selling the lot or lots pursuant to these conditions.
1.7. "VAT" means Value Added Tax.
2. Bidding
2.1. The highest bidder for each lot shall be the Purchaser of that lot.
2.2. No person shall be entitled to retract a bid. The Auctioneers reserve the right of refusing any bid without giving any reason and of altering, adding to, dividing, consolidating or withdrawing any lot or lots for sale.
2.3. The Auctioneers reserve the right to fix a reserve price for any lot at a figure no higher than the lower estimate.
2.4. The Auctioneers reserve the right to bid on behalf of the Seller on lots which are subject to a reserve price. The Seller shall not be entitled to bid where the Auctioneers have reserved such a right.
2.5. In the case of a dispute as to any bid the Auctioneers may immediately determine the dispute or put up the lot again at the last undisputed bid or withdraw the lot.
2.6. The Auctioneers will accept written commission bids free of charge from any person who is unable to attend the sale. Bids will also be accepted by telephone and fax at the sender's risk.
2.7. Lots will not normally be sold at less than two-thirds bottom estimate.
3. Payment
3.1. Each Purchaser shall give in his name and address and proof of identity (if required) to the Auctioneers at a sale and shall if required pay such deposit as the Auctioneers may specify.
3.2. The Purchaser shall pay the Hammer Price together with a premium of 27% on the Hammer Price (this amount includes VAT and must not be shown separately or claimed as input tax). By the making of any bid the Purchaser acknowledges that his attention had been drawn to this fact and that he assents to the Auctioneers receiving the said commission. A 22.5% premium will be payable by Purchasers outside the European Union (EU). Zero-rated goods such as books will be subject to a premium of 22.5% whether within or outside the EU unless entered by a VAT registered Seller.
3.3. Items marked with an asterisk * in the Catalogue after the lot number and before the description will be subject to VAT at 20% on the Hammer Price (not chargeable to Purchasers outside of the EU).
3.4. Payments for lots must be made in cash, bankers draft or cheque guaranteed by the bank upon which it is drawn. Lots will not be released against cheques from Purchasers unknown to the Auctioneers until cleared by such Purchaser's bank. Payment is accepted by Visa and Mastercard. A surcharge of 3% plus VAT will be levied to accounts settled by credit cards. Payment is also accepted by most debit cards with no surcharge.
3.5. Overseas clients are requested to settle accounts by USA Dollars or Sterling bank transfer (details upon request), by Sterling cheques only if drawn on major English clearing houses, by Visa or Mastercard (a surcharge of 3% plus VAT [clients outside the EU exempt from VAT] will be levied to accounts settled by this method) or if payment is made on personal accounts in foreign currency the client is requested to add the equivalent of a further £10 to cover bank conversion charges. The Auctioneer reserves the right to claim back from the Purchasers any shortfall due to bank charges or currency fluctuations on that account.
3.6. No lots will be released by the Auctioneers until receipt of payment in full from the Purchaser.
4. Risk
4.1. All lots shall be the sole risk of the Purchaser from the fall of the hammer.
4.2. The Purchaser shall take all lots in the condition in which he finds them. It is the responsibility of all intending Purchasers to satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the authenticity in the authorship, date, age, period, condition or quality of any lot.
5. Liability
5.1. Neither the Seller of any lot nor the Auctioneers make or give nor has any person in the employment of the Auctioneers any authority to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to any lot and any implied conditions or warranties are excluded.
5.2. All statements contained in the Catalogue as to the authenticity, attribution, genuineness, origin, authorship, date, age, period, condition or quality of any lot are statements of opinion only and are not to be taken as or implying statements or representations of fact. Lots are sold subject to all faults and errors in description or otherwise.
5.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 5.1. and 5.2. of these Conditions in the event of a dispute as to authenticity of any lot(s) the item or items in question should be returned to the Auctioneers within 21 days of receipt by the Purchaser of such lot(s) together with a formal statement by a recognised expert The Auctioneers shall at their option and without admission of liability reimburse the price paid by the Purchaser in respect of such lot(s). This does not constitute an approval service.
5.4. Neither the Auctioneers nor the Seller shall be responsible for any loss, damage or injury occasioned to or sustained by any person on the premises before, during or after a sale save in respect of death or personal injury caused by negligence of the Seller or the Auctioneers.
6. Capacity of Auctioneers
For all purposes of a sale the Auctioneers shall be deemed to be the agent of both the Seller and the Purchaser and they shall not be considered responsible for any default on the part of either the Seller or Purchaser.
7. Delivery
7.1. Lots will only be released once payment in full has been received from the Purchaser.
7.2 All lots are normally held at the sole risk of the Purchaser from the fall of the hammer. However, with effect from the 1st December 2013, the Auctioneer will indemnify the Purchaser against loss or damage to purchased lots from the fall of the hammer to the point of despatch at no extra charge to the Purchaser. Following receipt of payment lots will be despatched , at the Purchaser’s cost, by the most expedient means of transit (or in accordance with the purchaser’s written or emailed instructions).
With effect from the 1st December 2013 all shipments will be covered for the full value of the goods (including Purchaser’s premium but excluding import taxes) in the event of loss or damage. The charges for this service, which are as follows, will be added to the Purchaser’s invoice prior to shipment.
In the event that the Purchaser has either made alternative insurance arrangements or does not require to take advantage of the Auctioneer’s scheme, written (or emailed) instructions to that effect must be received prior to the goods leaving the Auctioneer’s premises.
Scale of Charges:
Shipment value including premium. Charge
Under £250 £5.00
£250-£500 £7.50
£501-£1000 £10.00
£1001-£2000 £20.00
£2001-£5000 £35.00
Over £5000 £50.00
7.3. Postage is subject to VAT at 20% within the EU
7.4. The Auctioneers will provide full customs declarations on the Hammer Price plus the Purchaser's premium and Purchaser's shall be responsible for any customs charges made by the country of import.
7.5. A charge will be made for the packing of deliveries which is subject to VAT at 20% within the EU.
8. Auctioneers Remedies
In the event that the Purchaser fails to pay for any lot(s) in full pursuant to these Conditions then the Auctioneers shall be entitled:
8.1. to rescind the sale of the relevant lot(s)
8.2. to resell the lot(s) without further notice either by public or private sale and the deficiency (if any) arising from such second sale together with all charges and expenses relating to the same shall be the responsibility of the defaulting Purchaser and shall be recoverable as and for liquidated damages.
9. Jurisdiction
These Conditions shall be governed by English law and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Online Bidding
International Autograph Auctions Ltd. offer an online bidding service for bidders who cannot attend the sale, however please be advised that a charge of 4.95% + VAT is chargeable on all purchases made through any of the online bidding facilities offered.
In completing the bidder registration and providing your credit card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with International Autograph Auctions Ltd. you
1. authorise International Autograph Auctions Ltd., if they so wish, to charge the credit card given in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction, and
2. confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit card details to International Autograph Auctions Ltd. and agree that International Autograph Auctions Ltd. are entitled to ship the goods to the card holder name and card holder address provided in fulfillment of the sale.
3. confirm that you accept that an additional charge of 4.95% + VAT will be applied to your invoice for use of an online bidding facility
