Remarkable collection of all twenty two Nazi war criminals tried in Nuremberg in 1945-46. These signature certification documents were obtained by Richard Raabe, a supply warden at the prison from July through December 1945. Each certification sheet measures 8 x 4.25, with 'This is to certify that the following is my proper signature,' typed in English and German, as well as the signer's rank and position typed on the bottom. Each has signed in fountain pen, with a couple adding the date of October 17, 1945. The following are the signers and their sentences from Nuremberg: Dr. Robert Ley (committed suicide), Alfred Rosenberg (death), [Wilmelm] Frick, (death), Karl Doenitz (10 years), Albert Speer (20 years), Erich Raeder, dated November 8, 1945, (life), Wilhelm Keitel (death), Constantin von Neurath, (15 years), Rudolf Hess, (life), Hermann Goering (death), Joachim von Ribbentrop (death), Frans van Papen (acquitted), [Alfred] Jodl (death), Julius Streicher (death), Baldur von Schirach (20 years), Walter Funk (life), Hjalmas Schacht (acquitted), Ernst Kaltenbrunner (death), Hans Fritzshe (acquitted), Fritz Sauckel (death), Hans Frank (death) and Arthur Seys-Inquart (death). Signatures are accompanied by three page roster from the prison, dated October 17, 1945 listing the prisoners of 'C' and 'W' wing and a copy of a newspaper article about Raabe and his collection, featuring a photo of Raabe holding the certifications. Raabe was assigned to Nuremberg on July 8, 1945 and , because he was the only one of three assignees to the prison who could speak German, he was assigned to officially notify the German warden that three of the prison's wings were being confiscated by the United States Army. Raabe chose to be a supply warden, because he felt that that position would give him the most contact with the prisoners. As supply warden, Raabe would hand out cigars to the prisoners and was in charge of their clothes. Raabe would converse with many of the prisoners, including Hess and Doenitz. In overall fine condition, with some light toning to pages, several have vertical folds and all have clear and bold signatures. An impressive grouping of major historical significance, allowing the collector to attain all twenty two signatures at once, with excellent provenance.
