Description
From the library of Heinrich Himmler, the Chronicle of the City of Hof by the City Archivist, Dr. E. Dietlein, published in 1937. A presentation copy to Himmler by the Oberbürgermeister of Hof, Richard Wendler.
Octavo, xvi, 480pp. Volume I only, lacking Volume II. Text in German. Yellow cloth, title stamped in black on the spine, illustration in black on the front cover. Faint dampstain to front cover and along the lower quarter of the preliminary leaves. Solid text block, front hinge showing some wear. Lacking the scarce dust jacket.
Inscribed on the front free endpaper to Heinrich Himmler by Richard Wendler, Oberbürgermeister of Hof: “Dir, lieber Heinrich, in Treue zugeeignet. Hof, Julfest 1937. Richard.”
Rough Translation: “To you, dear Heinrich, faithfully dedicated. Hof, Yule festival 1937. Richard.”
This copy is signed by Himmler in his customary green pencil: “Jul. 24.I.1938 / H.H.”
(Provenance: Seized from Himmler’s Tegernsee retreat by the 8th Army and later deaccessioned from an Army library; U.S. Army Library stamp on the copyright page. Sold by William J. Ringler / Shalimar Imports in 1977, includes paperwork.)
Richard Wendler (1898-1972) was a German lawyer, Nazi Party official, and SS officer who served as Oberbürgermeister of Hof from 1933 to 1941. He was close with the Himmler family, as his sister, Mathilde “Hilde” Wendler, married Gebhard Ludwig Himmler, Heinrich Himmler’s older brother, in 1926. From 1942-1943, Wendler served as governor of the occupied Kraków District of Poland and oversaw the Lublin concentration camp. Wendler rose to SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei. He was tried fr his crimes after the war, but was released soon after and returned to Germany to practice law.
