Kramer served in the Natzweiler camp before being appointed as the commandant of Auschwitz and later Belsen. In 1945 numbers in the camp increased from 15,000 to nearly 50,000. When the camp was liberated by Allied forces at the end of the Second World War they found over 13,000 corpses. At the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Kramer was accused of selling off camp food supplies during 1945, was found guilty and executed on 1st October, 1946. ALS in German, signed 'Your Josi,' two pages both sides, 6 x 8.25, on lined Warden's Office - Prison of Provincial Court Lunenburg letterhead, December 5, 1945. Letter to his wife Rosine while being held by the British. In part, 'They tell me a Catholic priest in Lunenburg wants to see me. So far I have refused to see him. I really could tell him emphatically to knock on other doors with his visits, places where they make criminals out of decent people with no criminal record. It's at those doors where the one and only salvation bringing religion should use every means at its disposal, referring to the upcoming Christmas festivities to warn of the responsibility of a judicial murder. I can accept responsibility for what I did. They can puff themselves up and talk big in their verdict against me, but despite all that, the verdict is nothing but murder and a great injustice...Today all things German, and all who think and feel as Germans, are immediately branded as criminals.' Also included is a handwritten telegram, signed 'Your Josi' dated December 13, 1945, written to his wife only minutes before his execution, 'A Few minutes before they come for me for the last walk, greetings to you and the children.' Letter is accompanied by the original mailing envelope. In fine condition, with light overall toning to the letter, telegram would rate poor, with paper loss to left side, scattered soiling and spotting, but legible. Interesting how even with death only minutes away, Kramner was cool and collected in the note to his wife and children. RRAuction COA.
