A Grouping of Reichsbahn Photographs during the Visit of Secretary of State Ganzenmüller

This is a collection of eighteen wartime photographs taken during the visit of Secretary of State Albert Ganzenmüller at the Kassel Reichsbahn train repair and maintenance facility. Five photographs are labeled as “Work Entrance”, “Military concert during lunch break”, and with the remaining three labeled “Visit of Secretary of State Engineer Ganzenmüller” on the reverse. The remaining photographs are labeled “Photo Development of the RBD (Reichsbahndirektion) Kassel”. The photographs depict Ganzenmüller during his visit giving speeches during formal ceremonies, as well as photographs of the workers having informal lunch. The photographs measure 175 mm x 127 mm; slightly warped on the edges, which is to be expected from second war period photographs, in better than very fine condition. (C: 166)

Footnote: Albert Ganzenmüller (February 25, 1905 - March 20, 1996) was the Secretary of State of the Reichs Transport Ministry (Reichsverkehrsministerium), and was involved in the deportation of political enemies during the second war. Ganzenmüller was involved in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch while still in school. After graduating the Technical University of Munich and receiving a doctorate in Engineering, he joined the Deutsche Reichsbahn/German State Railway and the SA. He eventually rose through the ranks of the German State Railway, achieving the position of General Director. He was involved in the deportation of political enemies to the Treblinka death camp from 1942 onwards after the personal request of Heinrich Himmler. He fled to Argentina following the collapse of Germany, but later returned to Germany in 1955. He was charged with aiding and abetting the murder of millions of Jewish men, women, and children. He was not incarcerated and died from natural causes in 1996. He was decorated with the Bloor Order in 1933 (Number 1411933), and the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords in September 1943). (C:166)