Original German WWII Waffen SS 3rd Panzer Division "Totenkopf" Officer HStuf. Georg Kinzler Personal Diary with Photo and Translation
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Original Item: One-of-a-kind-set. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.
When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS"), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.
Here we have a wonderful Waffen Totenkopf SS personal diary, complete with the owners photo as well as a full translation of the written diary entries later in the book! This is 53 pages long, and was printed out and put into a three ring binder. It is also contained on a PDF and spreadsheet on a flash drive included with the diary and photo.
The diary itself measures 3"W x 4 7/8"H x 5/8", and has a black cloth cover with the faint silver ᛋᛋ Doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) insignia of the SS in the lower right corner. It is also faintly dated 1942 on the spine. The diary is also far more than just empty pages, and the majority of the pages are full of lots of reference information, making it almost more like a field manual than a diary. The very end even has multiple pages of color plates showing the insignia from the various branches of the Wehrmacht and other NSDAP paramilitary organizations.
The first few pages have some handwriting and notes, and page 9 identifies the owner as Kinzler, Georg, and gives his Dienſtgrad (Rank) as ᛋᛋ-Ustuf, which is short for SS-Untersturmführer. This is a junior officer rank equivalent to a Heer Army Leutnant or U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant. Below this are his measurements and some other vital information, with information about his parents on the next page.
The included photograph measures 3 3/8"W x 5 5/16"H, and looks to show Kinzler in his dress uniform, with a brocade belt and aiguillette cords over his right shoulder. We can clearly see the Kriegenpatten (Shoulder tabs) on his uniform, with the right showing the Totenkopf (Death's Head) insignia of the 3rd SS Panzer, and the left showing 3 pips over two bars. This picture was definitely taken after he received the diary, as the rank insignia indicate that he has been promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer, an officer rank equivalent to a Heer Hauptmann or U.S. Army Captain.
This is truly a unique offering, something the likes of which we have not had before. With the translation you can really guide yourself through what Kinzler lived through during the war. Ready to become part of your collection!
More on the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf":
This elite division of the Waffen-SS of NSDAP Germany during World War II formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head" – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division.
The division was formed through the expansion of Kampfgruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice – after its commander, Theodor Eicke. Most of the battle group's personnel had been transferred to the Waffen SS from KZ camp guard units, which were known collectively as SS-Totenkopfverbände; others were former members of Selbstschutz: ethnic German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland.
The division became notorious for its brutality, and committed numerous war crimes, including the Le Paradis massacre.
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- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
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