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This letter shows how regulated and organized life in Nazi Germany was. Even if you were married to a Reichsleiter (the second-highest political rank in the Nazi Party), or the children of Adolf Hitler’s personal friend and photographer, you needed to request official permission to travel abroad!

This 100% original 80+ year old Nazi eagle and swastika embossed letter from the office of Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach in Vienna (the second largest city of Greater Germany) is in very nice condition, with two punch holes. The rare piece of correspondence is a great insight in the workings of Nazi Germany.

On 12 October 1942 Reichsleiter der NSDAP and Reichsstatthalter of Vienna Baldur von Schirach sent a letter to the Police Direction in Vienna regarding official travel permits for his wife and her brother, the daughter and son of Adolf Hitler’s personal photographer and publisher, Heinrich Hoffmann, for travel to and from the Netherlands between 15 October 1942 and 30 November 1942.

Von Schirach’s secretary Madersbacher typed the request on this A4 size (8-1/4 x 11-5/8 inch), Nazi eagle and swastika embossed letterhead of Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach, with the address of the Reichsstatthalter or Governor’s office on Ballhausplatz in Wien in the upper right-hand corner.

The text of the letter states that “according to orders” the Ministerial Pass of Mrs. von Schirach was enclosed, ready for the appropriate visas to be added by Vienna police authorities.

The second paragraph requests that Vienna police authorities issue a Dienstpass (Service Passport) to Heinrich Hoffmann Jr, who is described as Von Schirach’s associate. Two passport photos were supplied with this letter and neatly typed on the reverse side are the personal details of Schriftleiter (Editor) Heinrich Hoffmann (see image below), needed by the police to issue the appropriate travel papers. They include his city and date of birth (Munich, 1916), his address in Vienna, hair and eye color and that his shape was gross or large. Heinrich “Heini” Hoffmann was the younger brother of Mrs. Henriette von Schirach, both of whom were children from the first marriage of Hitler’s trusted friend Reichsbildberichterstatter Heinrich Hoffmann.

It was also requested that the appropriate travel papers to permit Heinrich Hoffmann Junior to travel to and from Holland would be issued by the Vienna police. The start date of the trip was 15 October 1942 and it was on behalf of the Reichsleiter himself, Baldur von Schirach.

A stamp at the bottom left on the front side of the letter shows it arrived at the Polizeidirektion Wien on 13 October 1942. There it was immediately assigned a number and person to deal with the travel paperwork request.

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Photo for reference only