ERWIN VON WITZLEBEN

ERWIN VON WITZLEBEN
(1881 - 1944) German general whose forces broke the Maginot Line forcing the surrender of three French divisions. A major plotter in the July 20, 1944 bomb attempt on Hitler's life, von Witzleben was to take over the supreme command of the whole Wehrmacht as the highest-ranking German soldier. Following his arrest, von Witzleben was among the first to be tried. In an attempt to humiliate him, he was made to appear before the court wearing trousers that were several sizes too big and, additionally, being denied a belt or suspenders, he was obliged to continually hitch up his trousers in court to prevent them from falling down. Excellent war-date S.P., 4 x 6 in. color, a Willrich color portrait of the general in uniform, signed at bottom in blue ink. The verso bears the recipient's name and address, and the year '1940'. Fine.