Letter From Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Winner, Waffen-SS Gruppenführer und Generaleutnant Herbert Otto Gille to a Member of the Hitler Youth: Carbon copy text in black typewriter face on a thin off-white paper stock, with "Heinz !" inserted in black typewriter face, from "5. SS Panzer Division Wiking Kommandeur" (5. SS Panzer Division Wiking Commander), location dated "Im Osten, den 16.6.1944" (In the East, June 16, 1944), inscribed "Lieber Hitlerjunge Heinz ! Deinen Brief mit den beigelegten Foto von mir habe ich erhalten und ich danke Dir bestens dafür. Deine Bitte werde ich gern erfüllen und Dir das Bild mit meiner eigenen Unterschrift versehen zurücksenden. Ich wünsche Dir weiterhin alles Gute und hoffe, dass such Du später einmal ein recht zackiger Soldat, vielleicht sogar in den Reihen der Waffen-SS wirst. Ich glaube schon, dass Du dann mit Stolz den Armelstreifen "Wiking" oder den einer anderen ruhmreichen SS Division tragen wirst. Es grüsst Dich mit Heil Hitler! Dein Gruppenführer" (Dear Hitler Youth Heinz! Your letter with the enclosed photo of me I have received and I thank you for it. Your request I will gladly meet and return the provided photo with my own signature to you. I wish you all the best and hope that you search again and become a rather ragged soldier, perhaps even in the ranks of the Waffen-SS later. I do believe that you'll be proud to wear a "Wiking" cufftitle or contribute to another glorious SS Division. I greet you with Hail Hitler! Your group leader), signature in blue ink of Waffen-SS Gruppenführer und Generaleutnant Herbert Otto Gille at the lower right, 148 mm x 211 mm, vertical fold mark, small tears along the top and bottom edges, better than very fine.
Footnote: Herbert Otto Gille (March 8, 1897 – December 26, 1966) was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten) and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during the Second World War. By the end of the war, he held the rank of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer und General der Waffen-SS and was the last regular officer of the Waffen-SS to be promoted to that rank with date of rank from November 9, 1944. Born in Gandersheim on March 8, 1897, Gille began his military career as a First Lieutenant in the artillery branch during the First World War and won the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. He left the Army in 1919 and remained a civilian working in agriculture and as a car dealer until 1931 when he joined the Nazi Party and the SS. He married Sophie Charlotte Mennecke on January 4, 1935 and his only child, a daughter, was born on October 9, 1935. In 1934, he was re-activated by the SS combat support forces. He became a Company Commander in Ellwangen, then a Battalion Commander of the SS regiment Germania in Arolsen. He later served as the commander of an artillery unit in Jueterbog. As the commander of the 1st Battalion of the SS-V Artillery Regiment, Gille participated in the invasion of Poland and in the western campaign. In 1940, he took over the artillery regiment of the 5th SS Panzer Division, led by SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner. After the assault on the Soviet Union, Gille, as a leader of an advance guard, reached the Kuban and received the Knight's Cross on October 8, 1942. Shortly thereafter he took command of the Wiking Division (5th SS Panzer Division) on the Eastern Front. Early in 1944, Gille was instrumental in the withdrawal of his command and others of the encircled Group Stemmermann through "Hells Gate" during the Korsun cauldron encirclement, also known as the Cherkassy Pocket. The Soviets greatly outnumbered the German forces but they failed to cut off their retreat, though they were able to inflict serious damage on the German formations. Gille received the diamonds in addition to his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on April 19, 1944. Shortly after his escape from the Cherkassy Pocket, Gille and members of his staff were flown into the encircled town of Kovel to organize its defence. Under Gille's steady leadership the mixed Army and Waffen SS units maintained a vigorous defence until the siege was raised by approaching German units from the West. His troops stood strong on the East Prussia border with the 3rd SS Panzer Division and prevented the planned Soviet breakthrough to Berlin in the autumn of 1944 destroying large numbers of Soviet tanks. In January 1945, Gille, as leader of the IV SS Panzer Corps comprising the 3rd and 5th SS Panzer Divisions, was sent to Hungary to attempt to relieve the encircled city of Budapest. However, his troops were unable to break through to the city. In March 1945, he led the IV SS Panzer Corps in the failed Lake Balaton Offensive and following the Soviet counter-offensive his corps was forced to retreat into Austria. When the end of war was clear, he marched towards the American troops, in order to avoid surrendering to Soviet forces. He was held by the United States for three years, and released in May 1948. Despite being an early Nazi Party member, Gille was known for his apolitical views. The author, Heinz Höhne, in The Order under the Death Head, characterized Gille as an enigma and "Nur-Soldat" (soldier – nothing else) who once threatened a newly assigned Weltanschauungsoffizier (political indoctrination officer) with a clean-out squad to gather his uniforms and other possessions and throw them and the officer out of the unit. Gille was highly regarded for his leadership qualities and tactical abilities. He commanded Waffen-SS units at the regiment, division and corps level with distinction during the war. Gille was popular with his men and admired for his personal bravery. He was well known for the unusual walking-stick he carried. After the war, he worked for a newspaper until 1958. He also owned a small bookshop. Gille was the founder of a magazine for veterans of the Wiking division, "Wiking Ruf". On December 26, 1966 Herbert Otto Gille died of a heart attack in Stemmen, near Hannover. He was buried at the local cemetery in Stemmen, however, his grave no longer exists.