HIMMLER HEINRICH: (1900-1945) Nazi German politician, Reichsfuhrer of the Schutzstaffel (SS) 1929-45. T.L.S., H. Himmler, one page, 4to, Berlin, n.d., to [Walter] Schmitt, chief of the SS Personnel Main Office, in German. Himmler sends a brief note at the foot of a carbon typed copy of another letter, which he forwards to Schmitt for ´information and action´. The lengthier text of the earlier letter appears above, dated 20th December 1937, and is addressed to [Martin] Bormann. Himmler responds to Bormann regarding SS-Oberfuhrers Schulz and sets out five orders (translated), ´1. I am graciously reducing the punishment to stripping him of his rank as SS Oberfuhrer and reinstating him with the rank of SS Standartenfuhrer. 2. Sch[ulz]. is prohibited from wearing his service uniform for one year, which may be lifted by the SS-Oberabschnittsfuhrer on special occasions. 3. Sch[ulz]. is prohibited from consuming alcohol for three years. The Oberabschnittsfuhrer is to report to me on this every six months. 4. Sch[ulz].'s Totenkopf ring is confiscated for one year. 5. I revoke the revocation of the sword´. With an official SS Personnel Office stamp at the foot and various different annotations. Two file holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or the signature. A letter of interesting content demonstrating the strict power Himmler wielded over the officers of the Schutzstaffel; in this case, given that Schulz is banned from drinking, one can only imagine that he had been caught in a drunken and disorderly state whilst on duty. VG

Walter Schmitt (1879-1945) German SS-Obergruppenfuhrer and General of the Waffen-SS who served as the Chief of the SS Personnel Main Office.

Martin Bormann (1900-1945) German Nazi Party official of World War II who served as Chief of the Nazi Party Chancellery 1941-45 and as Private Secretary to Adolf Hitler 1943-45.