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.
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| Realized $1,031 |
