Bidspirit auction | THE COLLAPSE AND ARREST OF

THE COLLAPSE AND ARREST OF HITLER’S FLENSBURG GOVERNMENT - DOCUMENTING THE END OF THE THIRD REICH - THE COLLAPSE AND ARREST OF HITLER’S FLENSBURG GOVERNMENT - DOCUMENTING THE END OF THE THIRD REICH ”FURTHER RESISTANCE...HAS NOW BECOME SENSELESS...” Unique and historically revealing original typed document describing in detail the end of the Third Reich as the Flensburg Government headed by Grossadmiral Karl Donitz struggles to simultaneously arrange multiple surrenders with the western Allies while at the same time attempting to continue the war with the Soviets. This ”TOP SECRET” document 36 pages each approx. 10 x 8 inches is a translation and summary by a British naval intelligence officer and his staff of original notes obtained from the admiral's personal adjutant WALTER LUDDE-NEURATH who was at Donitz’s side until the government was arrested. It contains a wealth of first-hand information on Donitz's desperate meetings status reports and expectations as the Third Reich crumbled to pieces before him. The report “GERMANY - DAILY NOTES OF GRAND ADMIRAL DOENITZ COVERING PERIOD 2 MAY 1945 TO 17 MAY 1945 AND PERSONAL FILE” is dated June 19 1945 26 days after Donitz and his government were arrested. The report regrettably lacking its cover page and the first page of text otherwise opens with several paragraphs indicating the highlights of the report including Donitz's insistence that only a single political party retain power the infighting in the Wehrmacht between those seeking to fight the Soviets versus those opposed the threat of famine in Germany etc. The balance of the report is Ludde-Neurath’s narrative and chronology of events actually commencing upon Donitz's appointment to head the government on April 30. In part: ”“…The Fuhrer has designated you as his successor instead of ex-Reichsmarshall Goering. Written confirmation follows. From now on you will order such measures as will be found necessary in the current situation…Reichsleiter Bormann is trying to get to you today in order to brief you on the situation…The military situation is hopeless…principle goal of the government must be to save as many German people as possible from extermination by Bolshevism…the Anglo-Saxons oppose this goal we must continue to fight against them as well…The insistence of the enemy powers on general unconditional surrender blocks this goal because it would deliver to the Russians defenseless millions of German soldiers and civilians. Our aim is therefore surrender only to the West…the appointment of a Foreign Minister was considered desirable…Count Schwerin von Krosigk undertook the post of Foreign Minister…Discussion of the Bohemian Question. Participants as before plus the Reichsfuhrer SS [Himmler]…the territory can be held for three weeks longer. The political situation is precarious and nothing is known to us concerning the agreements arrived at by the Allies at Yalta…further resistance in the Northern area against the Anglo-Americans which until now had only the aim of holding this door open has now become senseless…decided to enter into conversations with Montgomery as quickly as possible…declaration of Prague as an open city…Norway: The military situation is good. The area is well defended and well supplied…defensive installations of Kiel as a naval base are insufficient…The Grand Admiral approves therefore the declaration of Kiel as an open city…Netherlands. The Reichkommissar [Gegner] reports concerning his late negotiations…do not flood the land. An honorable transition might pick us up a little credit…position of south Germany…Signs of defection among the troops…The people are hostile towards the troops…Kesselring reported by telegraph that he was forced to sign the surrender of the Army Group…Montgomery demanded the unconditional surrender of all German armed forces in Holland Friesland Schleswig and Denmark...promised verbally that German prisoners of war would not be handed over by him to Russia. The Grand Admiral therefore approved the signature of the conditions with the postulate of honorable treatment of prisoners of war and an honorable method of surrender…von Friedeburg was ordered back to the negotiations with Montgomery [and] to sound out Eisenhower with the end in view of a further partial surrender in the West. He is above all to explain to him the reasons why a total surrender on all fronts is impossible for us…suspension of U-Boat warfare…Release of the King of the Belgians…armistice in the area of Holland Friesland Schleswig and Denmark is to come into effect on 5 May at 0600…Daily notes 5 May 1945…von Friedeburg to inform General Eisenhower of the cessation of submarine…refugee ships might be allowed to continue…we must wind up the present situation i.e. get out of the war as well as possible and create out of this the foundations for a new edifice…The Grand Admiral formed for himself…a simple working cabinet.