who signed this thank you letter in 1934?

[huddyhuddy]

Any ideas on the signature...

[Neil Hever]

The history of the Reichskanzlei indicates Hans Heinrich Lammers was in office starting January 30, 1933. So, this is from his term but the signature does not look like his. It must be the signature of a subordinate. NH

[huddyhuddy]

Tnx Neil!

[Neil Hever]

Correction - Hans Heinrich Lammers. If you dig deeper on the staff at the Chancellory, you may find a match. NH

[huddyhuddy]

Sadly I have no idea of finding such lists 8(

[HPL2008]

It must be the signature of a subordinate.

It is. Lammers himself wouldn't have signed with "Im Auftrag".

The signature looks like "Ostertag" to me. Hofrat Rudolf Ostertag had served as the Ministerialbürodirektor since 19 March 1919, so this would appear to be him.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_...marer_Republik
"Akten der Reichskanzlei. Weimarer Republik" Online

[huddyhuddy]

That was fast, thank you!

[Neil Hever]

Well done! There you have it. An authentic Reichs Chancellery document from very early in the Third Reich era. Apparently, the subordinate is responding to a request indicating the Chancellor is unable to fulfill a request regarding some kind of honorary position. Im Auftrag would be a typical sign off from a secretary - On behalf. NH

[huddyhuddy]

Thank you very you two!

[HPL2008]

Apparently, the subordinate is responding to a request indicating the Chancellor is unable to fulfill a request regarding some kind of honorary position. Im Auftrag would be a typical sign off from a secretary - On behalf. NH

Not a humble secretary, in this case, but a veteran government official of the high-grade career. Basically, in official administrative paperwork "Im Auftrag" is to be used in all cases where a letter or other document is signed by any person who is not the actual head of the respective agency/department/unit etc.

Anyway, the letter is a reply to a citizen who had requested Hitler to be the honorary godfather of his child, which was respectfully denied.

Hitler was, of course, swamped with such requests (along with requests/offers for all sorts of honorary membership, patronship, citizenship and what have you). He did take the honorary godfathership of a family's seventh son or ninth child. Such honorary godfatherships by the head of state have a long tradition in Germany. Presently, the Federal President takes over the honorary godfathership of a family's seventh child, but only upon the express request of the family.