FEGELEIN HERMANN: (1906-1945) Commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany. Fegelein was a member of Hitler´s ...

FEGELEIN HERMANN: (1906-1945) Commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany. Fegelein was a member of Hitler´s entourage as brother-in-law to Eva Braun through his marriage to her sister Gretl. Fegelein was shot for desertion on 28th April 1945, only two days before Hitler committed suicide. D.S., `Fegelein´, one page, 8vo, 10th May 1942, to Willi Menke, in German. The partially printed document being a certificate of approval issued by the SS-Hauptscharfuhrer office, in favour of Willi Menke, SS-Kavalier-Brigade. Signed by Fegelein in bold blue ink, in his capacity as SS-Standartenfuhrer and Commander of the SS-Kavalier-Brigade. Bearing an ink stamp alongside Fegelein´s signature, showing a Nazi eagle with swastika. VG Fegelein commanded the SS Totenkopf Reiterstandarte, known as the ''Death´s-Head Horse Regiment, in September 1939, after the invasion of Poland. He would later participate in the Battle of Belgium and the Battle of France, and was awarded the Iron Cross for his services. Troops under his command on the Eastern Front were responsible for the deaths of over 17,000 civilians in 1941. After being wounded in 1943, Fegelein was reassigned by Heinrich Himmler to Hitler's headquarters staff, and was present at the failed attempt on Hitler's life in 1944. Fegelein is widely regarded as an opportunist, a cynical and disreputable officer, a protégé of Himmler who granted him assignments and rapid promotions. Albert Speer called him ''one of the most disgusting people in Hitler's circle.''