Germany, Third Reich. An Amber Paper Knife with Case, by the State Amber Manufactory, from the Estate of SS-Obergruppenführer Arthur Seyss-Inquart

(Papiermesser mit Etui). A rare and unique paper knife from the estate of SS-Obergruppenführer Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Reichskommissar for the occupied Netherlands, consisting of a wide amber handle contoured for gripping, featuring a detailed silvered crossguard, with both the obverse and reverse bearing raised elongated Maltese Crosses, emanating from the crossguard is a lacquered bone blade with a semi-sharpened tip, unmarked, the blade measuring 30 mm (w) x 230 mm (l), the knife with an overall length of 340 mm.

Accompanied by its period original presentation case, constructed of a wooden frame with a faux blue leather exterior liner, the edge bearing a gilt inscription of “ECHT NATURBERNSTEIN” (“GENUINE NATURAL AMBER”), with a maker’s mark of “SBM” for the State Amber Manufactory in Königsberg, the interior with a white satin lid liner, bearing a gilt maker’s mark of “STAATLICHE BERNSTEIN MANUFAKTUR, KÖNIGSBERG”, with a white satin knife bed, opening with a functional metal spring catch with exterior stud release and dual functional metal hinges, measuring 70 mm (w) x 355 mm (l), with age-appropriate material fatigue evident to the case, in overall near extremely fine condition; accompanied by a press photograph of Seyss-Inquart at a reception of NSDAP officials, the reverse with a Dutch language press label bearing a date of 1 January 1942 and a location of The Hague, stamped with the insignia of the Association of Dutch Journalists and a studio mark of “STAPF BILDERDIENST, AMSTERDAM”, measuring 182 mm (w) x 130 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Arthur Seyß-Inquart was born on July 22, 1892 in the village of Stannern (present-day Stonařov, southern Czech Republic) near the town of Iglau (Jihlava). This was a German speaking community within a Czech dominated area in Moravia, at the time part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The family moved to Vienna in 1907.

Seyß-Inquart began to study law at the university of Vienna, and earned his degree during the First War in 1917 while recovering from being wounded. As a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army he saw action in Russia, Romania, and Italy. He received several bravery decorations and at the end of the war held the rank of Oberleutnant (first lieutenant). 

After the war, Seyß-Inquart developed close ties with several right wing and fascist organisations, among them the Vaterländische Front (Fatherland Front). He became a successful lawyer and had his own practice since 1921. In 1933, Seyß-Inquart went into Austrian politics and joined the cabinet of chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß.

Through growing influence and support by non other than A.H. himself, Seyß-Inquart eventually became Austrian Minister of the Interior in February of 1938. With the looming annexation of Austria by Germany in March of the same year, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg stepped down. Seyß-Inquart was chosen as his successor due to immense pressure applied on the Austrian government by the NSDAP. 

He served in this position for less than two days, until the Anschluss was completed. Seyß-Inquart signed the documents that legalised the annexation of Austria by Germany. After his office had ceased to exist, he was named Reichsstatthalter (Reich Governor) of the Ostmark, the newly created province that Austria had become as part of Greater Germany. 

Being a fanatical anti-Semite, Seyß-Inquart almost immediately ordered the confiscation of Jewish property and had the Austrian Jews sent to concentration camps. He received the honorary SS rank of Gruppenführer in May of 1939, and would go on to become an SS-Obergruppenführer in 1941.

After the attack on Poland at the beginning of the Second War, Seyß-Inquart was named deputy to Hans Frank, the General Governor of occupied Poland. He supported Frank in the deportation of Polish Jews. Seyß-Inquart was also aware of the systematic murder of Polish intellectuals by the German secret service “Abwehr”.

In May of 1940, A.H. named Seyß-Inquart Reich Commissioner of the Netherlands. His policies concerning the Dutch Jews were no different than his policies had been concerning the Jews in Austria and Poland, in that they were ousted from governmental, and leading press and industry positions, their property seized, before being sent to concentration camps. Of the 140,000 Jews that were registered in the Netherlands in 1941, only 30,000 survived the war.

During his reign of terror, Seyß-Inquart also authorized the execution of at least 800 people, ranging from political prisoners to resistance fighters. At the end of the war, he was arrested by Allied forces and became one of the 24 defendants during the Nuremberg trials against the major war criminals. Seyß-Inquart was found guilty in three out of four charges and executed by hanging on October 16, 1946.