SS Germania Document

**Tietze** · 12-16-2009, 10:23 PM

Couple of pictures of an interesting large document (the photo is post card sized) with a nice signiture on it. I would like to know more about if anyone can comment, i have not seen one of these before does anyone else have one that they can post?

Will be getting it framed soon.

thanks

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 12-16-2009 10:23 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-16-2009, 10:36 PM

Hi Tietze, these kind of documents were purchased by the recipient to record their (pre war) service in the forces. They are more usually seen made out to the Heer etc than to members of the SS-VT. Nice document! It certainly deserves framing.

Signed by Karl Maria Demelhuber.

Cheers, Ade.

**Tietze** · 12-16-2009, 10:46 PM

Adrian, thanks for comments, the signiture is that of Karl-Maria Demelhuber as you've added, quite a nice one, would be nice to know what happened to Otto!

**Paul D** · 12-16-2009, 10:49 PM

The document is signed by the later SS Obergruppenfuhrer Karl-Maria Demelhuber nickname Tosca.

He was the last Waffen SS Officer of that rank to die in 1988.

**Paul D** · 12-16-2009, 10:50 PM

Great minds think alike !!!

info on him here

SS_Obergruppenfuhrer und General der Waffen-SS Karl Maria Demelhuber

**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-16-2009, 10:52 PM

It might be worth checking the Volksbund database for Otto's name to see if he made it through the war?

Cheers, Ade.

**Woske** · 12-17-2009, 04:20 PM

It might also be worth checking that signature. There is something about it that looks very suspect. If I were asked to put money on it, I'd say it was not a genuine Demelhuber signature. Sorry.
W.

Here's a real one (even with the typo!).

**Woske** · 12-17-2009, 06:10 PM

And here is one from a book, dated the year before the above document, 1937.
W.

**Woske** · 12-18-2009, 11:38 AM

Tietze and Adrian,
I've blown up the signature on the ornate document and also compared it with several other authentic Demelhuber signatures. I'm sorry to say that in my opinion it is a forgery and this casts doubt on the entire document.
What are your views please?
W.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-18-2009, 12:06 PM

Hi W, thanks for your time and comparisons. They certainly look different to me.

To be honest, I would not know a real signature if it jumped up and bit me! It is an area I have never ventured into out of a real fear of copies and very little faith. I think I would only entertain one if it came directly from the person concerned.

Cheers, Ade.