Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 86

The Manuscripts, Collectibles & Space Auction

The William K. Steiner Collection - WW2

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 354		A Collection of U.S. Generals. A collection of 70 portrait photographs signed by a variety of U.S. Army Generals (a few naval officers included), with a small number of unsigned photographs, various places, various dates (most circa 1940-1950). Most of the photos are 10 x 8 in. and were inscribed and signed for Army gridiron star Elmer Quillen Oliphant, "Ollie". Included are Generals Omar N. Bradley, Maxwell D. Taylor, Jacob L. Devers, J. Lawton Collins, Mark W. Clark, Joseph W. ("Vinegar Joe") Stillwell, Hoyt Vandenberg, Lucius D. Clay, Leland S. Hobbs, Admiral William H. ("Bull") Halsey, James H Doolittle (several different examples), Claire Lee Chennault (of Flying Tigers fame) and many others. Should be examined in person to be appreciated. Elmer Q. Oliphant (1892-1975) was an all-American athlete. While in college at Purdue he won 17 Varsity letters, and later became the only West Point Athlete to win four letters in baseball, three in football, three in basketball and one in track. He later played for the NFL and was appointed as the track coach at West Point by Douglas MacArthur. He had many friends among high-ranking officers, especially those of the U.S. Army. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. E. Q. Oliphant Collection, Christies East, May 14, 1997, lot 254. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,800
Lot 355		Admirals Nimitz and Leahy. Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966) Photograph of Fleet Admiral Nimitz signing the Japanese surrender documents aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, inscribed and signed, "To Lt. J.D. Burger, USNR with best wishes. C.W. Nimitz Fleet Admiral USN." 8 x 10 in., no place, no date. Nimitz signed a second time across the surrender documents. Generals MacArthur, Halsey and Wainwright stand behind Nimitz as he signs. Stamped on verso, "Official U.S. Navy Photograph." Together with Leahy, Admiral William (1875-1959) Head-and-shoulders sketch of Admiral Leahy by M.H. Herrin, signed by Leahy in the lower border, 12 x 9¼ in., date of sketch in another hand (10-5-42). Leahy served as personal Chief of Staff to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1942 through the rest of the war and continued under Truman. From 1942 until his retirement in 1949, he was the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military, reporting only to the President. As Fleet Admiral, Leahy was the first U.S. naval officer ever to hold a five-star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $930
Lot 356		Clark, Mark W. Three items signed by General Mark Clark: Two photographs signed, one of them inscribed "To: Joe Clark With best wishes"; both waist-up portraits in his four-star general's uniform. The third item is a photo of a Four Freedoms award given to Gen. Clark by the Italian-American Labor Council on Columbus Day 1945. All fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 357		Clark, Mark W. and Joseph Lawton Collins. Mark Clark: (1896-1984) American general during World War II and the Korean War. Typed letter signed ("Wayne"), 1 page, 10½ x 8 in., Allied Force Headquarters, APO address in New York City, Jan. 2, 1943. To an old friend from home, in part: "It certainly has been a privilege to have been a participant in this operation. We worked hard in London for several months on its preparation and it was most gratifying to see it click as it did. We now have plenty of opposition to the east, but are building to overcome it…." He also talks about his diaries and the possiblity of writing his memoirs one day, and his family. One chip at left margin. With transmittal envelope, signed "M.W. Clark" in return address. With full-length war-time photograph inscribed and signed, "To: Gen. & Mrs. Barnard, With love from Mark Wayne Clark, April 15, 1944, 10 x 8 in. Laid to board. Joseph Lawton Collins (1896-1987) Army general in World War II; Army Chief of Staff in the Korean War. Photograph signed ("J. Lawton Collins") in the lower border, 10 x 8 in. Photograph taken by Ray Cresson, New Orleans in 1951 and reproduced by the U.S. Army. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 358		Collection of 20 Japanese War Criminals. Collection of 20 black and white photographs signed by 20 Japanese war criminals during their trial before The International Tribunal for the Far East, which opened May 3, 1946. All were found guilty as criminals of war on November 4, 1948. Each 5 x 4 in. waist-up photo is signed three times: on the front in Latin characters, then on the verso in Japanese and once in Latin characters. Following is a list of the pictured defendants and their sentences: KENJI DOIHARA, General, 5th Army in Manchuria - Hanging KINGORO HASHIMOTO, Colonel, Propagandist - Life Imprisonment SHUNROKU HATA, General, in Central China - Life Imprisonment KIICHIRO HIRANUMA, Baron, Prime Minister (1939) - Life Imprisonment KOKI HIROTA, Foreign Minister, Prime Minister (1936-37) - Hanging SEISHIRO ITAGAKI, General, Chief of Staff Kwantung Army - Hanging KOICHI KIDO, Home Minister - Life Imprisonment HEITARO KIMURA, General, Vice War Minister - Hanging KUNIAKI KOISO, General, Prime Minister (1944-45) - Life Imprisonment IWANE MATSUI, General, C-I-C in Central China - Hanging JIRO MINAMI, General, C-I-C Kwantung Army - Life Imprisonment TAKASUMI OKA, Admiral, Navy Minister - Life Imprisonment HIROSHI OSHIMA, Ambassador to Germany - Life Imprisonment KENRYO SATO, General, War Ministry - Life Imprisonment MAMORU SHIGEMITSU, Foreign Minister - 7 Years Imprisonment TEIICHU SUZUKI, General, Minister without Portfolio - Life Imprisonment SHIGENORI TOGO, Foreign Minister, - 20 Years Imprisonment HIDEKI TOJO, General, Prime Minister & Army Minister - Hanging YOSHIJIRO UMEZI, General, Ambassador to Manchuko - Life Imprisonment. Estimated Value $5,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $7,200
Lot 359		Enola Gay and Bocks Car Crew Signatures. Photo of the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945, signed by five members of the Enola Gay crew, and one member of the Bock's Car crew that dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasakai on August 9, 1945, 8 x 10 in.: "Tom Ferebee / Bombadier"; "Paul W. Tibbets - Pilot"; "Theodore J Van Kirk / Navigator"; "Morris R. Jeppson - Weapons Monitor / Hiroshima"; "George R. Caron / Tail Gunner - Enola Gay"; and "Sgt. Ray Gallagher / Nagasaki Aug. 9, 1945." Ink smudge in lower border, else fine. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $400
Lot 360		Generals Omar Bradley, A.C. McAuliffe, & Joseph Stilwell. Omar Bradley (1893-1981) He was a U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe and was the last of only nine people to hold the five-star rank of General of the Army. Photograph inscribed and signed, "To Ollie: With best wishes, Omar N. Bradley," 10 x 8 in. no place, no date. A head-and shoulders portrait of then Lt. Gen. Bradley. Anthony McAuliffe (1898-1975) U.S. general who was the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne, Belgium). He is best remembered for answering "Nuts" to the German demand for surrender. Photograph inscribed and signed, "To A. Silhanek, with kind regards, A C McAuliffe," 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A waist-up portrait with Dept. of the Army stamp on the verso and the date taken, March 7, 1956. Joseph Stilwell Four-star general who served in the China Burma India Theater. Photograph inscribed and signed, "To the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America, With best wishes - Joseph W. Stilwell, Gen., U.S.A." 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A waist-up portrait in iniform of the Photo by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Slight waviness to upper and lower edges. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $552
Lot 361		German Diary: Otto Telschow, Governor of Saxony, 1941-45. Diary given to Otto Telshow (1876-1945) on his 65th birthday, Deutsch-Evern, February 27, 1941, with his handwritten entries in German through April 16, 1945, quarto (11 x 9 in.). Brown morocco covers; a heavy metal frame of gold plate on copper, worked to an ornate design, is mounted to the front. There are some 30 original photographs tipped to the pages, with various images from the war, including German officials. An English translation is included. Telschow names many Party leaders, and makes references to meetings with them and the leader. He names people who have shirked their duties and been replaced or imprisoned. He proudly recounts gifts he receives, whether vodka, sets of China, or large pieces of land; he spends quite a bit of time writing about his new properties and the improvements he is making to them. As cities are obliterated by bombing, refugees flood into his area, and more and more people he knows die, he suddenly becomes more aware of and writes more of the war but still doesn't acknowledge possible defeat, even in his last entry on April 16. He died on May 31, 1945, of heart failure in a hospital in Lüneburg after attempting suicide by slashing his wrists and taking poison. Excellent condition. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,031
Lot 362		German Leader From 1933 To 1945. Autograph letter signed "Adolf Hitler" on engraved personal letterhead, 1 page, 4 5/8 x 7 5/8 in., Berghof, June 30, 1943. To Franziska Braun, mother of Eva Braun: "Eva and I would be very happy to see you and Mr. Braun in the Alps at Berghof. We hope you feel very comfortable in our house. Sincerely yours, Adolf Hitler." Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed in his hand. With a typed telegram sent from Berlin on December 12, 1941, to Frau Franziska Braun in Munich, sending best wishes from "Your Adolf Hitler." Also, a vintage original photo of a smiling Hitler at the wedding of his future sister-in-law, Gretl Braun, to SS Lt. Gen. Hermann Fegelein, on June 3, 1944, at the Obersalzberg. The photo was torn several times horizontally across the top and bottom but was taped back together. The faces and most of the bodies are not affected by the tears. Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,500
Lot 363		Group of High-level German Officials. Group of eight items: 1) typed letter signed by H. Himmler, on official letterhead, Munich, Mar. 10, 1932, regarding a promotion; 2) unsigned photo of Himmler in uniform, with others, in the field, 6¾ x 9 in.; photo by Friedrich Franz Bauer; newspaper blurb on back; 3) inscribed, signed photo of R. Hess, 11¾ x 9 in, Berlin, May 13, 1938; several tears to margins; 4) typed letter signed by Goering, on official letterhead, Berlin, Dec. 9, 1942, regarding an increase of import of ore metals; 5) typed letter signed by M. Bormann, on official letterhead, Oct. 23, 1944, ordering Heinrich Lohse in Kiel to take up his command as gauleiter again; 6) undated photo, 9 x 6¼ in., of Edda and Emmy Goering inscribed to Helli Bouhler; photo by Rosemarie Clauasen; 7) typed letter signed by Franz von Papen, Mar. 7, 1965 to a man in Indiana, in English, recommending his memoirs to explain what happened in Germany; and 8) a 1966 typed letter signed by Albert Speer, sending an autographed photo (not present). Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,920
Lot 364		MacArthur, Douglas (1880-1964) U.S. general who served with distinction in France during World War I, was commanding general of U.S. forces in Asia during World War II, and commanded the occupation of Japan following the war; he was relieved of his command in 1951 after publicly questioning President Truman's policy in the Korean War. Small, personal Japanese flag inscribed and signed, "Best wishes, Harry, / Douglas MacArthur / Tokyo. 1946," 11½ x 14½ in. The flag was given by MacArthur to his friend, General Harry Vaughn. Translated, the Japanese characters say: "Everlasting Success in War!" When they went off to war, Japanese soldiers were often given small flags, inscribed with sentiments such as this, by family, friends, or business associates. General MacArthur spend five and a half years in Tokyo as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, overseeing the occupation of Japan and the transformation of that devastated country into a modern democracy. General Harry H. Vaughn (1893-1981) had served alongside Harry Truman in World War I and the Army Reserves between the wars. Truman became a senator from Missouri and Vaughn went back to active service in World War II. He was injured in a plane crash in Australia in 1943, and while being treated at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, was transferred to the staff of the Senate Armed Services subcommittee, headed by Senator Truman, which was investigating arms procurement. As an investigator for the committee, General Vaughan uncovered numerous instances of deception by the munitions industry, which led to national prominence for Truman, and his selection as FDR's running mate in 1944. When he became Vice President, Truman named Vaughn his military aid. He supported Vaughn through accusations of influence peddling, accepting gifts for himself and friends, and accepting a medal from Argentina's neofascist government. The men remained friends and enjoyed playing poker and drinking bourbon and branch water together. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $6,300
Lot 365		MacArthur, Douglas. Beautiful sepia-toned photograph inscribed and signed, "To General Gibbons. With the cordial regard and best wishes of his old friend. Douglas MacArthur." 13 x 9 in., no place, no date. A waist-up photo in uniform with embossed stamp of the US Signal Corps. General Henry Gibbons' (1877-1941) long service in the military began when he joined the Third Tennessee Infantry in 1898; his final appointment was as Quartermaster General in 1936. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $338
Lot 366		MacArthur, Douglas and Leslie Groves. Photograph inscribed and signed, "To Don Ransom. With best wishes. Doug. MacArthur," 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A head-and-shoulders photo in uniform. Light stains along right side. Together with a photograph inscribed and signed "To Ollie With memories of November afternoons at West Point / Les / LR Groves / Maj Gen USA," 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A thigh-up photo in uniform of the general who directed the Manhattan Project. Also, a 1944 Military Elector's Affidavit for Harold E. Calbert, Capt. of Infantry, Co. D, 339th Inf. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $500
Lot 367		Marshall, George C (1880-1959) Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense; author of the Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe. War-date typed letter signed ("G.C. Marshall") as Chief of Staff, on "War Department / The Chief of Staff" letterhead, 1 page, 9 x 7 in., Washington, July 26, 1943. To Merrill C. Meigs, V.P. of The Hearst Corporation, thanking him for an editorial about "the splendid job that General Arnold and his associates have done in getting the Douglas aircraft plant at Park Ridge completed….The Air corps people deserve a great deal of credit for the big job they have done in the last few years. The terrific pounding they are now giving Germany is material evidence of the effectiveness of their work…" Light soiling; creases at lower left. Together with Circular No. 222 issued by the War Department by order of Secretary of War George Marshall, Washington, July 10, 1942, 9 x 5 ¼ in., 2-page printed instructions regarding disclosure of military information, procedures, etc. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $264
Lot 368		Montgomery, Bernard, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976) British field marshal who played an important role in the Allied victories in Africa and Europe. Good content autograph letter signed ("Monty"), on personal stationery, 3½ pages, 7¼ x 5½ in., London, Nov. 8, 1947. While Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1946-49), he writes to "John," enclosing a five -page memorandum titled "Notes on the German Situation: 1st May, 1946," marked "Private and Top Secret." Montgomery writes, in part: "On 1st May last year, 1946, I left Germany: where I had been C-in-C of the British Zone. I wrote the enclosed paper and sent it to Attlee, Bevin, and Hymd….We are moving towards a divided Germany….that…can only end in disaster. I often think what a tragedy it was that Eisenhower descended from his lofty perch of Supreme Commander after we had defeated the Germans in Normandy, and tried himself to command directly the land armies as well as being Supreme Commander….we won the war but we lost the peace. By adopting the proper strategy we could have been in Berlin and in Czechoslovakia before the Russians; the boundaries of the Zones in Germany would then have been drawn quite differently; we would have finished the war in the winter 1944/45 and not have gone on till the early summer of 1945; all our present troubles would have been halved…." Rust mark from a paper clip at upper left, else fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. Christie's New York, June 4, 2009, lot 398. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,063
Lot 369		Montgomery, Bernard, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. Letter signed ("B.L. Montgomery / General / Eighth Army") on an Air Mail Letter Card, 1 page, 7½ x 4 5/8 in., Eighth Army Sicily, August 15 [1943]. To Louis Di Lucca in Brooklyn, New York, thanking him for an encouraging airgraph and writing, "Together with our American Allies we have reached the final stage of the Sicilian campaign." With "Passed by Censor" stamp and signature. The Allied invasion of Sicily ended two days later, on August 17, and opened the way for the invasion of Italy. Together with a typed copy of Montgomery's "Farewell Message to the Eighth Army" signed "Montgomery of Alamein / F.M.," 1½ pages, no place, no date. An emotional message "to my beloved Eighth Army" as he left to take command of the 21st Army Group which consisted of all Allied ground forces that would take part in Operation Overlord, under Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $813
Lot 370		Nimitz, Chester W (1885-1966) Fleet Admiral of the U.S. Navy. Autograph letter signed ("C.W. Nimitz / Admiral, U.S.N.), 1 page, 8½ x 5½ in., on "Commander-In-Chief / United States Pacific Fleet letterhead (Hawaii), June 15, 1942. To Mr. Cole: "In reply to your request 2 send you an Hawaiian expression whch aptly fits our situation here in the Pacific. 'Hoonianawa nui' means--'Bide your time, be patient, be alert and ready for the opportunity which time will surely provide. Make your preparations carefully.' We are again awaiting the opportunity to strike our Enemy." With a photo inscribed and signed, "To: Valentine Pugliese with best wishes / C.W. Nimitz," 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A head-and-shoulders portrait displaying on his collar his five stars as Admiral of the Fleet. Small rust marks along lower edge. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $750
Lot 371		Patton, George, Jr (1885-1945) U.S. Army general who commanded the Seventh United States Army, and later, the Third United States Army, in the European Theater of War. Photograph of Patton as a four-star general, 9¾ x 7¼ in., with a 2½ x 3½ in. card affixed at lower left corner; card is inscribed and signed, " G S Patton Jr / General, USA / Pfc. Auburn Nunl--ter [?] / April 6th 1945." The soldier wrote "Fort Ehrenbreitstein / Koblenz)" in the lower right border; he also trimmed the left side of the photo. Together with a typed letter signed ("G S Patton Jr."), 1 page, on letterhead engraved "Lieutenant Colonel George S. Patton, Jr. / Fort Riley, Kansas," 10½ x 7¼ in. To Dan Casement in Manhattan, Kansas: I am giving myself the pleasure of enclosing a map of your part of Kansas…similar to the one you saw in my tent the night we camped on your place…." Two items signed by Patton. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 372		Patton, Jr., George. Photograph inscribed and signed, "To Gen. Kenner from G S Patton Jr.," 10 x 8 in., no place, no date. A smiling head-and shoulders portrait in uniform. Some wear; ¾ in. split at bottom center. Major General Albert Kenner was a Chief Medical Officer for Operation Torch and Operation Overlord. Together with a photograph inscribed and signed, "To Allie from George. Looks like a football outfit," 8½ x 6½ in., no place, no date. A waist-up photo of Patton in front of a tank, holding his binoculars. Crease at lower right, else fine. "Old Blood and Guts" shows his sense of humor. Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,320
Lot 373		Patton, Jr., George S. War-date typed letter signed ("G S Patton Jr."), one page, 10½ x 8 in., APO #758, c'/o Postmaster, N.Y.C., June 4, 1943. Typed on onion-skin paper and signed in black ink. To Brig. Gen. Albert Kenner, who was in the hospital in Colorado. In part: "My dear Kenner: There is no use crying over spilt milk. Both you and I have had the experience of being temporarily typed. But I am very sorry to hear that you are in the clutches of your own profession….You know without my saying it that any time you feel like coming backing to anything I may command, you will be the head surgeon of it. In this I am perfectly sincere and while I cannot offer a great deal at the moment, things may change any time. Again, I wish to tell you how dreadfully sorry I am, and to assure that the Big Boss, who visited me the other night, is deeply cut up. I am sure…there is plenty of time in this war for all men of your rare quality to gain the recognition they deserve…." Kenner (1889-1959) joined the Army in 1916 and joined the Pancho Villa Expedition, then sailed to France and joined the American Expeditionary Force, where he served as a medical officer in the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. Much decorated in World War I, he would return from his stint in the hospital and would serve as a Chief medical officer for Operation Overlord. Patton (1885-1945) was right to tell Kenner that "things may change any time." If only he knew! The next challenge would be Operation Husky, undertaken in July 1943, in which Patton would command the Seventh Army. His accomplishments as commander of the Third Army were still to come. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,313
Lot 374		Patton, Jr., George S. Partly-printed document signed (G S Patton Jr.") as Colonel, Third Cavalry, Commanding, 1 page, 8 x 10½ in., Fort Myer, Virginia, July 6, 1939. Appointing "Preston B. Rowland, Blue, Troop "E", C.M.T.C. Sergeant during the period of the Citizens' Military Training Camp. The Citizens' Military Training Camp was an organization formed to prepare for possible American involvement in the war which loomed on the horizon in Europe. Less than two months later, on September 1, 1939, Germany would invade Poland and hostilities would commence. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $930
Lot 375		Patton, Jr., George S. Typed letter signed ("G S Patton Jr."), 2 pages, 8 x 5 in., on personal letterhead, San Marino, California, April 27, 1935. To Col. Kenyon A. Joyce, 3d Cavalry, Fort Myer, Va.: "My dear Colonel Joyce: "…I am writing you to try and express in a very halting manner my deep and sincere appreciation of your kindness and consideration evinced almost daily during the time I had the pleasure of serving under you. I am honest when I say that never in my life have I been better treated nor had more plesant [sic] service. Thanks! ….Lt. Col. Milliken has a plan worked out in his own mind, to succeed Maj. Benson next year. Personally I doubt the advantages to be derived from his presence but then I am prejudiced. I should like to hear from you from time to time and learn how things are Going with the Greatest Regiment in the World also to learn how the Colonel of that regiment is getting on…." Joyce served as commander of Fort Myer from 1933 to 1937. In July 1932, as executive officer of the 3rd Cavalry, Patton was ordered to Washington with 600 troops of the 3rd Cavalry by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur to disperse the protesting veterans known as the "Bonus Army." Although he recognized the legitimacy of the veterans' claims, Patton personally led the troops who used tear gas and bayonets to disperse the marchers, feeling that his actions prevented an insurrection. On March 1, 1934, Patton was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular Army and transferred to the Hawaiian Division. Estimated Value $900 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,260
Lot 376		Rickover, Admiral Hyman G (1900-1986) United States Navy admiral; "Father of the Nuclear Navy." Typed letter signed ("H.G. Rickover") on "USS PARGO (SSN 650)" letterhead, 1 page, 11 x 8½ in, At Sea, North Atlantic, August 7, 1967. To New York Congressman Seymour Halpern, writing, "We are returning from the first sea trials of the USS PARGO (SSN650), our thirtieth attack type nuclear submarine," and giving details about the submarine. With a second typed letter signed ("H G Rickover"), on letterhead of the USS Mariano G. Vallejo, 3 pages, 10½ x 8 in, At Sea, North Pacific, Nov. 7, 1966. To John E. Moss, U.S. representative from California, announcing the launching of the 40th Polaris nuclear submarine, the USS Mariano G. Vallejo, and recounting the story of Vallejo's life. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $360
Lot 377		Rommel, Erwin (1891-1944) German Field Marshall, nicknamed "Desert Fox" for his victories as leader of the Afrika Korps. Following his defeat at El-Alamein, Rommel was placed in charge of the defense of the French coast. After the failure of the von Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler (July 20, 1944), Hitler discovered (while torturing participants in the plot) that Rommel was aware of the attempt on his life. To save face for Hitler, who did not want the German people to know that his most popular general was against him, Rommel was given a choice: swallowing a cyanide pill (and the German people would be told that he had died of wounds received on July 17th when his jeep was strafed by Allied planes) or being tried for high treason. Rommel had been against killing Hitler, which would make him a martyr, and thought a separate peace should be made with the Allies and Hitler put on trial. Not wanting his family and staff to suffer, Rommel chose to commit suicide. Typed document signed ("Rommel") as Generaloberst und Oberbehfehlshaber der Panzerarmee Afrika, 1 page, 10½ x 8¼ in., Armee-Gef.-St., May 15, 1942. Approving eleven soldiers for the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuze), 2nd Class, with swords. Boldly signed in pencil. The month after signing this document, Rommel would defeat the British 8th Army at Tobruk, destroying more than 260 tanks and taking 30,000 prisoners of war. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,400
Lot 378		Surrender of the Palau Islands - General Ford O. Rogers. Photograph inscribed and signed by Ford O. Rogers, Brig. Gen. U.S.M.C, 8 x 9¾ in. Inscription reads: "Sunday Sep. 2, 1945. Surrender of the Palau Islands aboard the USS Ammick." The Japanese commander signs as General Rogers and young marines look on. Photo by Wide World Photos. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $138
Lot 379		Von Braun, Wernher and Eberhard Rees. Glossy black and white photo signed by the German rocketry pioneers who served as the first and second directors of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, 10 x 6½ in. (image 6 5/8 x 6½ in.), no place, no date (while the two were still in Germany). Von Braun (1912-1977) and Rees (1908-1998) were in the first group of German scientists who were brought to the U.S. after World War II, as part of Operation Paperclip. Von Braun signed in black marker and Rees in blue ink. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $781
Lot 380		Von Hindenburg, Pétain, and Tito. Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934) German field marshal; second President of the Weimar Republic (1925-1934). In 1933 he appointed Adolf Hitler chancellor. Photograph inscribed and signed (Hindenburg / Feldmarshall") on verso, 3 3/8 x 5¼ in. One small tape remnant at top verso; small edge blemishes. Philippe Pétain (1856-1951) French general and Marshal of France; a hero in World War I, in 1940 he became Chief of the collaborationist government in Vichy. Sepia-tone photograph inscribed and signed, "Au Docteur Cyrill / cordial homage / 15 mai 1936 / Ph. Petain," 9¾ x 5¼ in. Josip Broz Tito (1892-1980) Partisan leader, 1st President of Yugoslavia with the rank of Marshal of Yugoslavia, known for defying Soviet hegemony. He held together the six Yugoslav nations, which disintegrated into war eleven years after his death. Photograph signed ("Tito") on the top of his shirt and tie, 7¼ x 5¼ in. Former pasting remnants on verso. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $300