Lot 4518

Description

Adolf Hitler, letter of thanks dated 10 May 1935 to Hamburg-South American Line regarding generosity and care by tourists and crew towards a mother and her baby whilst aboard the cruise ship 'Monte Rosa' on a trip to Greece, signed personally by A Hitler, Fuhrer and German Chancellor. Framed under glass, seal missing, otherwise very fine and excellent, clean signature.

The Monte Rosa was commissioned 21 March 1931 and her maiden voyage was from Hamburg to La Plata, Argentina; commissioned into service in Kriegsmarine 11 January 1940; served in a variety of roles until taken as a British war prize on 18 November 1945 and fitted out as a troop transport ship; 1946 renamed as British troop transport ship 'Empire Windrush'; post war, while off the Algerian coast, the ship sufferred an expolsion in its engine room which caused a fire killing four and the ship was abandoned. It sank while under tow by a British destroyer.