Germany, SS. Letter Signed by KC Recipients SS-Standartenführer Fegelein and SS-Hauptsturmführer Lombard, 1940

The letter was sent by SS-Hauptsturmführer Gustav Lombard, Commander of the 1st Squadron of SS Death’s Head Cavalry Regiment 1, dated to Warsaw on October 17, 1940. It originally contained four documents concerning exams for the German Equestrian Badge for further processing. The second part of the letter, dated to Warsaw on October 24, 1940 states that the documents have been forwarded with the approval of the Commander of the Regiment, SS-Standartenführer Fegelein. Lombard signed in black ink, while Fegelein signed in green ink. The document also contains a stamp from the 1st SS Death’s Head Cavalry Standarte. Measuring 210x297mm, very fine condition with some scuffing and creasing, minor age-related discolouration, and two punched holes.

Footnote 1:

Hans Georg Otto Hermann Fegelein was born on October 30, 1906 in Ansbach (Bavaria). He showed a talent for horse riding from a young age, training at his father’s equestrian school in Munich. He joined Cavalry Regiment 17 in 1925 and was a member of the Bavarian State Police in Munich from 1927 to 1929. Fegelein became a member of the NSDAP and the SA in 1930. In 1933, he transferred to the SS (membership number 66,680). At the end of 1934, he had already been promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer. Fegelein was named commander of the newly created SS Main Riding School in Munich by Reichsführer-SS Himmler in July of 1937, and simultaneously received his promotion to SS-Standartenführer in the Allgemeine SS. After the beginning of the Second War, he took command of the SS Death’s Head Cavalry Standarte in Warsaw, leading it in anti-partisan missions. Fegelein later fought in Belgium and France. With the attack on Russia, he was redeployed to the Eastern Front, participating in ethnic cleanses in Belorussia. In February of 1942, Fegelein was promoted to SS-Standartenführer of the Waffen-SS. During the same month, he led his unit to several victories in securing the Rzhev area, for which he was awarded the Knight’s Cross on March 2, 1942. He was promoted to SS-Oberführer on December 1 of the same year, receiving the Oak Leaves on December 22. In April of 1943, he took command of the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer, once more involved in anti-partisan measures. He was appointed chief of Amt VI, Office for Rider and Driver Training, in the SS Führungshauptamt on January 1, 1944. At the same time, Himmler assigned him to A.H.'s headquarters staff as his liaison officer and representative of the SS. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS on on June 10, 1944. A week earlier, he had married Gretl Braun, sister of Eva Braun, in a politically motivated arrangement to advance his career. Fegelein was present at the 20 July plot and received a minor wound. He was awarded the Swords on July 30 in the rank of SS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS. Towards the end of the war, Fegelein was stationed in the Führerbunker in Berlin. He deserted and tried to flee the country, but was apprehended by SS-Obersturmbannführer Peter Högl. A court martial ensued, Fegelein was accused of treason and shot on April 28, 1945.

Footnote 2:

Gustav Lombard was born on April 10, 1895 in Klein-Spiegelberg (Brandenburg). After his father’s death in 1906, he lived with relatives in the US where he finished high school and studied at the University of Missouri. In 1919, Lombard returned to Germany and worked for American Express and Chrysler in Berlin. He joined the NSDAP and the SS in 1933. In 1938, Lombard had become an SS-Hauptsturmführer in the Reiter-SS. After the beginning of the Second War, Lombard took part in the Polish Campaign. In the summer of 1941, he participated in ethnic cleanses disguised as anti-partisan missions in Belorussia. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross on March 10, 1943. On April 20, 1945 he reached his highest rank, SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS. Lombard died on September 18, 1992 at the age of 97.