BLOMBERG EVA MARGARETE VON: (1913-1978) German typist & secretary, the second wife of Werner von Blomberg ...

BLOMBERG EVA MARGARETE VON: (1913-1978) German typist & secretary, the second wife of Werner von Blomberg, Commander-in-Chief of the German Armed Forces 1935-38. A rare A.L.S., Eva v. Blomberg, one page, oblong 8vo, Nuremberg, 11th March 1946, to Mr. Bailey of the Internal Security Office, in German. Blomberg writes, in full, 'Would you be so kind and do his wife the favour of allowing the enclosed letter (no longer present) through to her husband. I am very sorry to have to trouble you for your help. Once again, warm thanks'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Blomberg. Some light creasing and very slightly irregularly torn to the lower edge, otherwise VG At the age of 59 Werner von Blomberg married his second wife, the 25 year old Erna Gruhn, also known as Eva Margarete. The marriage caused something of a scandal as the Berlin police had a long criminal file on Gruhn and her mother, a former prostitute. Among the reports was information that Blomberg's new wife had posed for pornographic photos in 1932. The police file eventually made its way to Hermann Goring (who had been best man at the wedding) and he used it to argue that Blomberg was unfit to serve office, and also informed Hitler (who had been present at the wedding) of his findings. Hitler ordered Blomberg to annul the marriage to avoid a scandal and preserve the integrity of the army, however Blomberg refused. When Goring threatened to make the police file public Blomberg was forced to resign his posts to prevent that. As a consequence Hitler took personal command of the military and used the opportunity for a major reorganisation of the Wehrmacht. Blomberg spent World War II in obscurity and was arrested by the Allies in 1945 and gave evidence at the Nuremberg Trials. Whilst in detention at Nuremberg his health declined rapidly and he faced the contempt of his former colleagues and the intention of his young wife to abandon him.