7192 - Erich Raeder Autograph Letter Signed from Nuremberg (1945), Requesting an Investigation into Missing Personal Belongings

Erich Raeder Autograph Letter Signed from Nuremberg (1945), Requesting an Investigation into Missing Personal Belongings German grand admiral (1876-1960) who led the Kriegsmarine during the first half of World War II. Promoted to grand admiral in 1939, Raeder resigned in January 1943 and was succeeded by Karl Dönitz. Convicted of war crimes at Nuremberg and sentenced to life imprisonment, he was released in 1955 due to failing health. ALS in German, one page both sides, 8 x 13, November 22, 1945. Handwritten letter to Colonel Andrews, written from Cell 31 of Nuremberg prison, adjoining the Palace of Justice, concerning personal belongings taken from Raeder upon his arrival and subsequently unavailable despite repeated requests. The letter reads, in part (translated): “I was brought here on 11-1-45 in the evening. They took a small piece of hand luggage from me with a brown covering, containing in part: one collar bag with white collars and handkerchiefs, 2 black ties, shoelaces and buttons (among them 1 pr. gold cufflinks with monogram, 1 pr. goldplated and numerous shirt buttons); an oilcloth bag with skincream, green pomade...shaving brush, toothbrush, 1 razor strop; 1 flannel cloth. / 1 wool vest (green-red) / 1 wool cloth (bright green) / 1 catskin with ribbons (or laces) / 1 glass soapdish w. soap/1 glass with pomade (still 1/4 full) / 1 nickle box with...shaving soap/1 bottle eau de Cologne, toothpaste (Russian) 1 mirror (broken) 1 glass with cotton / 1 glass (empty) / 1 comb, 1 brush, 1 nail file / almost only gray suspenders, 1 red long necktie. When I asked for the red tie or a pair of the black suspenders for the court, they weren’t there; similarly, I also received no answer on requesting the wool vest, which I need for my sciatica at night. I likewise received, despite repeated requests, no pomade in a matchbox, as I would like to keep my scalp clean (glass receptacles are of course not allowed). I fear that these things were stolen on my arrival at night; otherwise they would have given me the things for the court. I therefore request a thorough investigation, perhaps by having my property shown to me for determination, so that I can report more precisely on what is missing. It could be that I haven’t mentioned some of the things above, as they escaped my memory.” In very good condition, with partial separations to the fragile intersecting folds, including a near-complete separation to the central horizontal fold.