Adolf Hitler Signed Ministerial Appointment Document

Description

10/9/25- For sale is a very rare original signed document from Adolf Hitler. This document announces and confirms the appointment of Ernst Schlünder to a ministerial job within the Nazi civil service. The document is prominently signed by Adolf Hitler at the bottom, and is co-signed by Hans Heinrich Lammers, the Chief of the Reich Chancellery for the entire duration of the Nazi Reich and one of Hitler's closest confidants. The document is dated September 4 1941 and was issued from the Fuhrer Headquarters, rather than the Chancellery in Berlin. Research indicates that Hitler was at the famous Wolf's Lair bunker complex overseeing the invasion of the Soviet Union in September 1941, the site of the famous July 20 assassination plot just under three years later. The Hitler signature matches the evolution of his signature by the early war period. The ink is noticeably faded as compared to the printed ink of the text of the document, indicating that the signature was done in different ink than the rest of the document. There are also very slight variations in the darkness of the ink within the curves of the letters, indicating that wet ink was applied to the paper, rather than any kind of stamp or smooth automatic printing. The Lammers signature displays the same ink fading and slight smudges, again indicating wet ink applied to paper. The document has very slight discoloration around the edges. There is a faint fold mark indicating the document was folded into quarters at some point in the past. There is a wreathed German eagle pattern pressed into the paper in the lower left. A small note on the back describes who signed the document. Overall in excellent condition and a very rare piece of world history.

The document translates to:

"In the name of the German people, 

I appoint Supreme District Leader Dr. Ernst Schlünder as Ministerial Councilor with appointment to the civil service.

I issue this document in the expectation that the appointee will conscientiously fulfill his official duties in accordance with his oath of office and justify the trust shown in him by this appointment. At the same time, I assure him of my special protection.

Fuhrer Headquarters, September 4th, 1941.

The Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor,

Adolf Hitler (signature)"

Dr. Ernst Schlünder was an  Obergebietsführer in the Hitler Youth organization, roughly equivalent to a three-star general. Schlünder was Head of the Office for Physical and Pre-Military Training in the Hitler Youth. In the early war years, the Hitler Youth was organizationally divided into six departments, and this document confirms Schlünder's appointment to lead the second department, again taking responsibility for Pre-Military Training and Sports.