Wochenspruch - Herman Goering

[Danmark]

Thanks all - it was just one of those random items that pops up from time to time - I wasn't searching for paperwork but for only 20 euros I thought it was irreplaceable history and pounced ....... happy to show it!

Cheers, Dan

[big ned]

Thanks Adrian, yeah he WAS probably the owner ...that makes more sense than a permanent guest ( although there are many of those )
These were supposedly sent out weekly to the party faithful as "inspirational words" to be placed in the home or workplace.
I suppose Gauleiters distributed these in their areas of responsibility. If so ( and Dudenhofen was in Gau Pfalz-Saar ) then this charming chap, Joseph Burkel was the main man! Josef Bürckel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It would appear Wiki have got it wrong again regarding Burckel's death along with that of his wife. She is shown below in a report on his funeral as being remarkably alive during the proceedings.........

Farewell to Gauleiter Bürckel
Party ceremony with a eulogy by Reichsleiter Rosenberg
Saarbrücken, 4 October

On Tuesday evening, all of Germany took leave of Josef Bürckel through a moving and elevating memorial ceremony of the party. Reichsleiter Rosenberg represented the Führer. Reichsleiter Dr. Ley, Fiehler, Baldur von Schirach, the now most-senior Gauleiter Murr and Gauleiter Sprenger, Sauckel, Wahl, and Dr. Scheel were also present, along with along with neighboring Gauleiter Florian and Simon. Along with representatives from the leadership corps of the party, state, and Wehrmacht, Stabschef Schepmann of the S.A. was present.

The Gauleiter’s coffin rested on the flower-strewn platform, surrounded by black pillars and the flags of the Gau. The honor guard consisted of leaders of the party and the Wehrmacht. While Beethoven’s Coriolanus Overture was played, the Führer’s massive wreath of red roses and white chrysanthemums was carried in by two S.S. men. The family entered, greeted silently by the gathering. The Gauleiter’s wife was accompanied by Reichsleiter Rosenberg.

After the last chord had sounded, Reichsleiter Rosenberg, as the Führer’s representative, delivered a memorial address.

The Reichsleiter reviewed Gauleiter Bürkel’s life and said:

Josef Bürckel was a devoted nationalist and a passionate socialist. In all of his life, he symbolized the unity that, from the standpoint of our worldview, reflects outwardly that great inner experience, that great idea, for which we fought.

Reichsleiter Rosenberg concluded: “The Führer has authorized me, party comrade Bürckel, to express to you his thanks for your complete loyalty to him and to the movement. More than ever before, the Führer remembers the loyal support of one of his oldest fellow fighters, who never grew weary during the years of struggle, who always followed the Führer and his banner. In particular recognition of this exemplary National Socialist life, and as a continuing reminder for coming generations, the Führer awards you, Joseph Bürckel, the highest level of the German Order with Swords. This will be a symbol of your beloved Gau, and of your loyalty to the whole National Socialist movement.

We now take leave of you. the flags of the Greater German Reich will flutter over your grave, and the soldiers of the German people will pass by you as they march west, where they will protect German territory and realize what you gave your whole life for, along with the great loyalty of your heart.”

After these parting words to the deceased Gauleiter, Reichsleiter Rosenberg presented, at the Führer’s instruction, the German Order with Swords. Alfred Rosenberg then placed the Führer’s wreath on the Gauleiter’s coffin.

The party ceremony ended with the moving second movement of Beethoven’s Eroica. On Wednesday morning, the mortal remains of Gauleiter Bürckel were laid to rest in his native soil of the Neustadt cemetery.

Courtesy of the 'Berliner Morgenpost', 5th October 1944.

Regards, Ned.

[HPL2008]

It would appear Wiki have got it wrong again regarding Burckel's death along with that of his wife. She is shown below in a report on his funeral as being remarkably alive during the proceedings...

I have heard this suicide story several times before, but never in a version to include his wife!

As a contrast, here's the paragraph on Bürckel's death from his German-language Wikipedia entry [ Josef Bürckel ]:


"Bürckel starb am 28. September 1944 eines natürlichen Todes. Prof. Dr. Siebeck, damaliger Leiter der Universitätsschule Heidelberg, diagnostizierte gegen 23 Uhr am 27. September 1944: Toxischer Kollaps, Dysenterie und schlechter Allgemeinzustand. Die Todesursache wenige Stunden später war Kreislaufversagen. Die spätere Verbreitung der These, Bürckel habe Selbstmord begangen, nachdem er sich zuvor mit der NS-Führung überworfen habe, legt den Verdacht nahe, dass das wahre Ausmaß der Verbrechen Bürckels und seine führende Rolle im Zentrum des NS-Regimes nachträglich verschleiert werden sollte."

...meaning:

"Bürckel died of natural causes on 28 September 1944. At roughly 2300 hrs. on 27 September 1944, Prof. Dr. Siebeck, at the time the head of Heidelberg University, had diagnosed him with: Toxic collapse, dysentery and poor overall condition. The cause of death a few hours later was circulatory failure. The later propagation of the assertion that Bürckel had commited suicide after having previously fallen out with the National Socialist leadership gives cause to suspect that the true extent of Bürckel's crimes and his leading role at the center of the National Socialist regime was to be covered up."