Germany, NSDAP. A Lot of Post-War Documents from the Estate of Gertrude Seyß-Inquart

A letter from Dr. Kurt Jonak thanking Gertrude for the birthday wishes, dated 31 July 1972, presenting two folding creases, minimal creasing at corners, measuring 210 mm (w) x 296 mm (h); 

A letter to Gertrude, written in blue ink and dated 20 November 1964, presenting two folding creases, minor creasing at edges, measuring 211 mm (w) x 290 mm(h);

A letter to one of the Seyß-Inquart daughters, on light blue paper, written in blue ink and dated 24 January 1974, presenting two folding creases, minimal discolouration and scuffing, measuring 160 mm (w) x 240 mm (h); 

A letter to Gertrude, written in blue ink and dated 10 March 1947, presenting two folding creases, minor tearing at the edges and creasing, measuring 211 mm (w) x 298 mm (h); 

A letter written in blue ink, dated 1964, presenting one folding crease, minor scuffing and discolouration, measuring 147 mm (w) x 210 mm (h); 

Five pages of notes belonging to Gertrude, written in blue, green and black ink, two pages paperclipped together and dated 1964, measuring 150 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), the remainder measuring 152 mm (w) x 213 mm (h), all presenting a single folding crease, minimal creasing and scuffing at edges; 

A letter to the Seyß-Inquart family, written in blue ink and dated 1 March 1947, presenting two folding creases, slight discolouration and creasing, measuring 170 mm (w) x 260 mm (h);

A note regarding family finances, dated 1 January 1945, written in blue ink, measuring 218 mm (w) x 305 mm (h);

A page of printed song lyrics, presenting two folding creases, slight creasing at corners, minimal discolouration throughout, 153 mm (w) x 211 mm (h);

A document regarding town fees from the town of Mattsee to Gertrude, dated 15 October 1952, stamped with the seal of the town of Mattsee, presenting a single folding crease, slight tearing at edges, measuring 210 mm (w) x 149 mm (h); 

A note from Arthur Seyß-Inquart’s secretary to an insurance company, dated 9 February 1940, on thin white paper, typed in black ink, presenting two folding creases, creasing at edges and slight discolouration, measuring 207 mm (w) x 298 mm (h); 

A lawyer’s bill to Karoline Maschka, dated 26 June 1947, presenting two folding creases, minimal scuffing and discolouration at corners, measuring 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h); 

Four documents pertaining to membership fees for the Austrian Lawyers Association, dated from 1942-1944, slight creasing and discolouration, all together with a paperclip, two documents measuring 70 mm (w) x 103 mm (h), two measuring 220 mm (w) x 106 mm (h); 

A receipt from the town of Mattsee, in pencil, stamped with the seal of the town of Mattsee, presenting minimal creasing, measuring 136 mm (w) x 105 mm (h);

A document regarding the property of the Seyß-Inquart family, dated 23 January 1952 and stamped by Josef Hesina, presenting two folding creases and some scuffing at edges, measuring 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h); 

A document regarding the property of the Seyß-Inquart family, typed in black ink, stamped with the seal of the District Court Hearings Vienna, presenting two folding creases, slight creasing at top edge and minimal discolouration, measuring 215 mm (w) x 308 mm (h);

A legal document from Josef Rehrl to Gertrude, dated 18 September 1946, typed in black ink and signed, presenting two folding creases, slight creasing and discoloration at the edges, measuring 211 mm (w) x 297 mm (h); 

A poem to Gertrude from Dr. Adolf Iglseder, with a handwritten note at the bottom in blue ink and signed, dated 1948, presenting two folding creases , creasing at edges, measuring 210 mm (w) x298 mm (h); 

Two rent contracts for people renting in Gertrude’s house, typed in black ink, one dated 1 October 1948, both signed, presenting slight discolouration, minimal creasing, measuring 210 mm (w) x 166 mm (h); 

Transcripts of a work Robert Thiel was working on in regards to the life of Arthur Seyß-Inquart, all typed, some signed by Robrt Thiel, dated from 1938 to 1973, some creases, discolouration, scuffing, 

A folder titled “WICHTIGE DOKUMENTE” (IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS), the interior with several divider tabs, presenting discolouration and scuffing, measuring 235 mm (w) x 310 mm (h); all  in very fine condition overall. 

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.