Germany, Third Reich. An Honorary Citizenship Certificate to Reichsstatthalter & Sudetenland Gauleiter Konrad Henlein

(Ehrenbürgerbrief). An Ehrenbürgerbrief (Honorary Citizen Letter), issued to Kondrad Henlein (1898-1945), from the city of Falkenau an der Eger, awarding him Ehrenbürgerrecht (Honorary Citizenship), issued on 23 May 1939, constructed of a brown leather portfolio, held closed with two leather straps engraved with a golden leaf pattern, the obverse centre presents the city coat of arms, the interior presents two pages of calligraphy in gold-leaf and red and black ink, the portfolio measures 29 cm (w) x 36 cm (h), the exterior presents in extremely fine condition, the interior pages show some wear and are in very fine condition.

Footnote: Konrad Henlein (1898-1945) was a leader in the Sudetenland from 1938 to 1945. From the Sudetenland, an area in outer Bohemia inhabited by around three million people of German origin, he founded the Sudeten‐German Party, which claimed Czech atrocities against the German minority. This served as AH’s excuse for his invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938, and his annexation of the Sudetenland to Germany. AH appointed Henlein leader under the title of Reichskomissar in 1938, and Gauleiter and Statthalter in charge of the Sudetenland from 1939 to 1945. Henlein committed suicide whilst in American imprisonment.