Germany, Wehrmacht. A Wartime Signed Portrait of Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb

(Wehrmacht Porträt mit Unterschrift). A signed wartime portrait of Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, depicted in uniform with the Knight’s Cross clearly visible, the lower left corner of the image with his typewritten name and title topped by a handwritten autograph in black ink, the reverse in an unused postcard format, with a studio mark of “PHOTO-HOFFMANN, MÜNCHEN, FRIEDRICHSTR. 34”, measuring 90 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), some soiling is evident to the obverse, a rare wartime signed portrait in better than very fine condition.

Footnote: A highly decorated veteran of the First World War, Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb remained in Reichswehr service in the interwar period and later held a number of key posts with the Wehrmacht. As commander of the 12th Army, he participated in the seizure of the Sudetenland in 1938, before being appointed commander of Army Group C in 1939. In this capacity, his forces broke through the Maginot Line during the Battle of France in June 1940, dealing a final, decisive blow to French forces and precipitating their eventual capitalution. For his leadership, von Leeb was elevated to Generalfeldmarschall and awarded the Knight’s Cross. Transferred east in advance of Operation Barbarossa, von Leeb commanded Army Group North between 20 June 1941 and 17 January 1942, where his forces rapidly overran the Baltic States and north-western Russia, eventually besieging Leningrad. He eventually clashed with AH on strategic objectives and freedom of command, and was consequently relieved of duties. This termination took place in favourable circumstances; von Leeb was granted a pension and estates worth an enormous sum. After the war, he was arrested by US authorities and tried in Nuremberg during the High Command Trial. He was convicted of one of four counts (passively enforcing the Barbarossa Decree) and sentenced to time served, being released immediately at the end of the trial. He retired to private life and died in Füssen, Bavaria on 29 April 1956.