Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Few artifacts can claim such a direct connection to one of the most important judicial proceedings in world history. This is an original autograph from the remarkable Daniel Roman Nuremberg Collection, an archive of 118 signatures assembled during the immediate aftermath of World War II by an American soldier who served as a guard at the Nuremberg Prison while many of the Third Reich's most notorious figures awaited trial, testimony, sentencing, or execution.

This is a signed black-and-white portrait photograph of Baron Konstantin von Neurath (1873–1956), the German diplomat who served as Reich Foreign Minister from 1932 to 1938 and subsequently as Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. The photograph measures approximately 5 1/16” x 7 1/16” (12.9 x 17.9 cm) and bears his prominent signature in dark ink across the lower portion of the portrait.

Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath was a prominent figure in German diplomacy whose political career extended from the German Empire through the Weimar Republic and into the Third Reich. Born into a Württemberg aristocratic family in 1873, he entered the German diplomatic service in 1901 and subsequently held several important diplomatic appointments. He served as German Ambassador to Italy from 1921 to 1930 and to Great Britain from 1930 to 1932, establishing himself as an experienced representative of German foreign policy.

On June 2, 1932, von Neurath was appointed Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs (Reichsaußenminister) under Chancellor Franz von Papen. He retained the position under Kurt von Schleicher and following the NSDAP's assumption of power in January 1933. During his tenure, Germany withdrew from the League of Nations, reintroduced compulsory military service, and remilitarized the Rhineland in March 1936. Von Neurath played an important diplomatic role in these developments and participated in the negotiations surrounding Germany's expanding political and military influence in Europe.

In February 1938, von Neurath was replaced as Foreign Minister by Joachim von Ribbentrop. He nevertheless retained a position within the German government as a Reich Minister without portfolio and President of the Secret Cabinet Council. Following the German occupation of the Czech lands in March 1939, he was appointed Reichsprotektor von Böhmen und Mähren (Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia), becoming the senior German civilian authority in the newly established Protectorate.

During his administration, German authorities suppressed Czech political organizations, abolished independent trade unions, restricted the press, and introduced anti-Jewish legislation. Czech industry was increasingly directed toward German military production, while arrests and other repressive measures targeted political opponents and members of the Czech population. In September 1941, von Neurath was placed on leave and Reinhard Heydrich assumed his duties as Acting Reich Protector. Von Neurath formally relinquished the position in August 1943, when Wilhelm Frick was appointed his successor.

Following Germany's defeat in May 1945, von Neurath was arrested and brought before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, where he stood trial alongside other senior German political and military officials. The proceedings, held between November 1945 and October 1946, examined his involvement in German foreign policy before the war and his responsibility for occupation policies implemented in Bohemia and Moravia.

Von Neurath was indicted on all four counts presented by the prosecution. On October 1, 1946, the Tribunal found him guilty on all four counts: conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The judgment addressed his participation in Germany's preparations for aggressive war and his responsibility as Reich Protector for political repression, the persecution of Jews, and the exploitation of occupied Czechoslovak territory.

He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and incarcerated at Spandau Prison in Berlin. Due to declining health, he was released early in November 1954, having served approximately eight years of his sentence. He died on August 14, 1956, at the age of 83.

The collection was assembled by Daniel Roman, a member of Company D, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, who was stationed in Nuremberg during the historic trials. According to a recently notarized affidavit signed by his daughter, Roman frequently spoke of his experiences guarding detained Third Reich officials and other individuals connected to the proceedings. He described how identification photographs were posted outside prisoners' cells so guards could verify identities. Over time, some guards began removing the photographs and obtaining autographs directly from the prisoners, often in exchange for cigarettes or small favors. Roman carefully preserved these signed photographs and documents for decades, creating what is today one of the most extraordinary surviving groups of Nuremberg-related autographs ever assembled.

This collection contains signatures from individuals connected not only to the International Military Tribunal, but also to the subsequent Nuremberg Military Tribunals, including the Doctors Trial, Industrialists Trial, Ministries Trial, and other proceedings that sought to bring accountability to those responsible for the crimes of the Third Reich.

Among the most notable names represented within the collection are senior Third Reich leaders, military commanders, industrialists, physicians, and key participants in the trials, including figures such as Hermann Göring, Albert Speer, Karl Dönitz, Baldur von Schirach, Hans Frank, Julius Streicher, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Wilhelm Keitel, Walther Funk, Hjalmar Schacht, Fritz Sauckel, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, and numerous defendants from the Doctors and Industrialists Trials. Many of these men stood accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, while others appeared as witnesses, defendants in subsequent proceedings, or individuals interrogated by Allied authorities.

The provenance accompanying these signatures is exceptional. The notarized family affidavit is supported by original wartime documentation confirming Daniel Roman's service in Nuremberg, including:

● Provost Marshal Identification Card identifying Roman as serving with the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
● Class B Pass dated April 15, 1946.
● Army Ration Card dated October 20, 1945.
● Permanent Pass dated May 18, 1946.
● Nuremberg transportation pass dated September 8, 1946.

Historical records further confirm that the 26th Infantry Regiment assumed responsibility for the Nuremberg Trial prisoners in April 1946, directly corresponding with Roman's documented service at the prison facility.

Many of the original photographs in the collection retain small thumbtack holes near the upper edge. While such marks would normally be considered condition issues, in this case they provide compelling physical evidence supporting the family's account that these photographs were once displayed outside prison cells within the Nuremberg detention complex itself.

Each autograph in the collection has been carefully examined under magnification and exhibits the characteristics of a genuine period live-ink signature, rather than a printed facsimile or reproduction. The signatures remain exactly as obtained and preserved by Daniel Roman over seventy years ago.

Interest in the Nuremberg Trials remains as strong as ever, recently renewed by the Hollywood motion picture Nuremberg, which has introduced a new audience to the dramatic events, personalities, and moral questions surrounding these historic proceedings. Original artifacts with direct prison provenance have become increasingly difficult to locate, making this collection a rare opportunity for collectors, museums, researchers, and historians alike.

Included with Every Signature
To preserve the extraordinary provenance of this collection, every purchaser will receive:

● A printed copy of the notarized affidavit from Daniel Roman's daughter detailing the history of the collection.
● Printed copies of Daniel Roman's wartime identification cards, passes, and supporting Nuremberg service documents.
● A printed copy of a 1946 photograph showing Roman and fellow American Military Police personnel marching outside the Nuremberg courthouse complex.

A Direct Connection to History
Whether the individual represented was a principal defendant, witness, military leader, physician, industrialist, or other participant in the trials, each autograph from the Daniel Roman Collection offers a tangible connection to the historic effort to hold the leadership of Third Reich Germany accountable before the world. More than a simple signature, it is a surviving artifact from the very prison and courtroom complex where the foundations of modern international criminal law were established.

The signature offered in this listing is the exact example shown and comes from the documented Daniel Roman Nuremberg Collection, acquired directly from the family of the U.S. Army guard who assembled it during the trials themselves.