Original Items: One-of-a-kind Set. Hasso Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel (14 January 1897 – 24 September 1978) was a German baron born to the Prussian noble von Manteuffel family and was a general during World War II who commanded the 5th Panzer Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds of NSDAP Germany. This is the 4th Grade of the award, given to only 27 people in total during WWII.

After the war, he was elected to the Bundestag (West German legislature) and was the defense-policy spokesman of the Free Democratic Party. A proponent of West German rearmament, he was responsible for coining the new name for the post-World War II West German armed forces, the Bundeswehr.

As a figure of great importance in West Germany during the post war period, he had numerous close friends, associates, and acquaintances around the world, many of whom kept correspondence as mementos, until they themselves were ready to move these items into the collectors market. One of the people who became very well acquainted with von Manteuffel was Mr. John D. Spangler, and we have previously had items from his collection. We have compared the signatures to other examples we have had, and all are a match.

Here we have a lovely set of items signed by von Manteuffel, sent as correspondence to Spangler. The first item chronologically is a holiday greeting card letter sent in December 1973, complete with the original stamped and post marked envelope measuring 7 1/4" x 3 7/8", just large enough to hold the card folded in half. The card is a standard Christmas and Happy New year greeting in multiple languages, and inside von Manteuffel lets Spangler know about his recent trip to the USA:

Dear Mr. Spangler,
I has been from Nov. 15 th till Dec. 10th in USA-
Pennsylvania - here I found a heep of mail - therefore today
my v e r y best wishes für Christmas and the New Year.
Yours
H v Manteuffel

It looks like von Manteuffel had these cards printed up in a large number, as his name is actually printed on the bottom of the card.

The next item is another letter, this one sent in December 1975, and also in the original stamped and post marked envelope measuring envelope measuring 7 1/4" x 3 7/8". The letter is much simpler than the 1973 one, and is just a folded Christmas and New years greeting, signed by von Manteuffel and dated 1975.

The last item is a 3 7/8" x 2 3/4" post war calling card of Hasso von Manteuffel, which has the message "With kindest regards!" and is dated "May 31 st 1976.". The card bears his autograph over his name.

A lovely bit of post war correspondence from a highly ranked German General, ready to research and display!