NUREMBERG

[‘the lover of words (as I am)’: Lord Birkett, judge, British representative at the Nuremberg Trials.] Two Typed Letters Signed, one with long Autograph Postscript, and Typed Note Signed, all to V. H. Collins, defending his use of language.

Author: 
Lord Birkett [William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett] (1883-1962), judge, a British representative at the Nuremberg Trials, Lord Justice of Appeal, Liberal Member of Parliament [Vere Henry Collins]
Publication details: 
LETTERS: 9 July 1953 and 11 May 1954. NOTE: 14 July 1953. All three items on letterheads of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2.
£180.00

The third letter gives an excellent indication of Birkett’s pride in his use of language. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. All three signed ‘Norman Birkett’. In fair condition, lightly aged and little grubby. The first letter with a small hole to one corner, and the two leaves of the last letter held together with a pin. ONE: ALS, 9 July 1953. 1pp, 4to. He is adding Collins’s book to his ‘select library on “words”’.

[ Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel interviewed at Nuremberg. ] Original carbon of Typed Affidavit, in English, by 'Field Marshal Keitel', giving his detailed answers to five questions by 'Maj K W Hechler'.

Author: 
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel (1882-1946), highest-ranking German army officer executed at Nuremberg; K. W. Hechler [Kenneth William Hechler; Ken Hechler ] (b.1914), American politician [ Nazi Party ]
Publication details: 
Place not stated [ United States Army, Nuremberg, Germany ]. 24 July 1945.
£350.00

2pp., 8vo. Single-spaced. In fair condition, on two leaves of lightly-aged air mail paper, with punch holes to left-hand margins and at head. Made out to be signed by 'Keitel | Generalfeldmarschall | (Field Marshal)'. The five questions are: 'What was your estimate in 1939 of the speed and capabilities of the U.S. to build up a war machine? Did the U.S. exceed your expectations in producing war material and training an army?' (26 line response), 'On what basis did you estimate that Germany could complete its campaign in Europe before the U.S.

Autograph Note Signed ('Hartley Shawcross') to J. Livingstone of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Author: 
Sir Hartley William Shawcross [Lord Shawcross] (1902-2003), English jurist, chief prosecuting counsel at the Nuremberg War Trials [Tribunal], 1945-1946
Publication details: 
25 July 1949; on letterhead of the Royal Courts of Justice, London.
£35.00

12mo, 1 p. On aged and creased paper. He has autographed the picture sent by Livingstone, and is returning it.

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