A Hand Crafted 1944 Document for Heinrich Himmler Commemorates the Presentation of the “Gotz von Berlichingen” Division Cufftitle

The hand crafted document is approximately 8-1/2 inches by 12-1/4 inches when open, and it is contained within a hand made wooden folder which is approximately 7 inches by 10-1/4 inches when closed. The document reads “Dem Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler zur Erinnerungan die Verleihung des Armelstreifens “Gotz von Berlichingen” and die 17. SS Panzer Grenadier Division. 10 April 1944″ (“To Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler in remembrance of the awarding of the cufftitle ‘Gotz von Berlichingen’ to the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division. April 10, 1944”). The document bears the signature of an SS Oberfuhrer. Both the document itself and the wooden cover are in excellent condition. It was on April 10 of 1944 that Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler presided over the ceremony at Thouars, France, at which the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division was formally activated and the “Gotz von Berlichingen” Division cufftitles were presented.  Also present with Himmler were “Sepp” Dietrich and General Leo Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg, who commanded the 5th Panzer Army during the Invasion of Normandy, and later served as Inspector General of Armoured Troops.