A Letter by Generalmajor Alexander von Pfuhlstein Written While at Trent Park

Letter in handwritten black ink and signed by Generalmajor Alexander von Pfuhlstein (number 18896), dated July 5, 1945, while a Prisoner of War at Trent Park between April 20 and August 30, 1945, addressed to the Camp Commandant, loosely translated from the German: "Sir, Major Lord Aberfeldy has informed me that you, Herr Major, adopt a kindly understanding towards my peculiar situation, and are endeavouring to procure my release. I should therefore like, by means of these few lines, to express my feelings of great gratitude. Assuring you of my sincere respect, Yours, Generalmajor von Pfuhlstein", 208 mm x 245 mm, one fold mark, light edge wear, extremely fine. Footnote: Alexander von Pfuhlstein (born December 17, 1899 in Gdansk, died December 20, 1976 in Bad Homburg) was a German Lieutenant General during the Second World War. He served with the Prussian Army during the First World War, and was awarded both the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Classes, along the Wound Badge in Black. In the inter-war years, he served with both the Army and the Air Force. During the Second World War, after his participation in the Polish campaign, he was named First General Staff Officer of the 58th Infantry Division on January 10, 1940. After his participation in the invasion of France, he took over the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment 18, on April 1, 1941. In June 1941, he was with 6 Infantry Division in East Prussia, confronting Soviet troops. In July 1941, he commanded the 77 Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division and was appointed Colonel on February 1, 1942, receiving the German Cross in Gold two weeks later. On May 1, 1942, he became commander of Infantry Regiment 154 at Wolchow, assigned to the 58th Infantry Division. In this capacity, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, on August 17, 1942. Pfuhlstein led the Division "Brandenburg" Division from February 12, 1943 to April 10, 1944. On July 1, 1943, he was named Major General. On April 14, 1944, he was in the Führerreserve and displaced, having to give up his division. By May 9th, he was leading the 50th Infantry Division during the retreat on the Romanian border and was later wounded, on July 18th. Effective August 9, 1944, he received a new command in Hohenstein/Szczytno, entrusted with defence trenches in East Prussia. In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on July 20, 1944, he was arrested for treason on September 1st, taken to Berlin and held at the Reich Security Main Office, where he was detained and questioned. He was first demoted to Major, then expelled from the armed forces on September 14th, followed by his transfer as a political prisoner on November 24th to the fortress prison at Küstrin. Due to the rapidly advancing Red Army, the fortress prison at Küstrin was evacuated on January 30, 1945 and von Pfuhlstein was released. He was given a chance to re-establish himself in the Armed Forces, initially taken in by his cousin, the Prince of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg at Schloss Kreuzwertheim. Rather than going to Würzburg and assuming a command, he chose to go underground, and with the help of his cousin, hid in a forester's house in Spessart. On April 2, 1945, he was at Wertheim am Main, where he was captured by the Americans. He was taken to England on April 20th and placed at Trent Park, a stately home north of London, that acted as a Prisoner of War Camp for German and Italian Generals and Staff Officers, remaining there until August 30th.