Germany, Ss. A Pair Of Ss Obergruppenführer Shoulder Boards Of Arthur Seyß-Inquart

A pair of shoulder boards, constructed of a mouse grey wool base, the obverse bears interwoven Russian braid in gilt and silver-aluminum wire thread, with two rank pips per board and topped with a pebbled silver magnetic metal button, the reverse is plain and presents the attachment prongs of the obverse rank pips, the reverse of the button is marked “D R G M” measuring 106.97 mm (l) x 40.88 mm (w), very fine.

A Deutsche Zeitung in den Niederlanden newspaper dated 22 December 1944 in its postage wrap with two stamps with a right-facing portrait of Hitler, addressed to Arthur Seyß-Inquart in Mattsee, Salzburg, Austria. The document is in very fine condition, with some scuffing and discolouration. Measuring (unfolded) 124 mm (w) x 305 mm (l).

A document of the Bureau of the Reich Governor pertaining to taxes, signed and dated to 22 June 1939. With an additional page with handwritten dates and equations, measuring 190 mm (w) x 252 mm (h), minimal scuffing and discolouration.

A typed statement of Karl Renner, in black ink, regarding the annexation of Austria to Germany, on very thin white paper, with two folding creases, minor scuffing at edges, measuring 211 mm (w) x 297 mm (h), very fine.

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.