The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Wehrmacht
Erhard Milch (1892–1972): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 30 March 1892, Wilhelmshaven |
|---|---|
| Died | 25 January 1972, Wuppertal |
| Key offices | State Secretary in the Reich Aviation Ministry (1933); Inspector General of the Luftwaffe (1938); Generalfeldmarschall (19 July 1940); Generalluftzeugmeister (1941) |
| Documents bearing his name | Aviation ministry and Luftwaffe documents, award papers, post-war letters |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Erhard Milch, a former Lufthansa director, ran the Reich Aviation Ministry as Göring’s deputy and later directed aircraft production. He was convicted at Nuremberg for his part in the use of forced and slave labour.
Who Was Erhard Milch?
Milch was born in Wilhelmshaven in 1892. In 1926 he became one of the directors of Deutsche Lufthansa. In 1933 he was appointed State Secretary of the Reich Aviation Ministry. He became Inspector General of the Luftwaffe in 1938–39 and Generalfeldmarschall on 19 July 1940, and after Ernst Udet’s suicide in November 1941 he took over aircraft production as Generalluftzeugmeister. In 1944 he worked with Speer on the Jägerstab.
What Documents Bear Milch’s Signature?
His signature appears on aviation ministry and Luftwaffe documents, award papers and post-war letters. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Field marshal only from 19 July 1940.
- Check ministry and Luftwaffe titles against the date.
- Separate wartime and post-war signatures.
Responsibility and Fate
On 17 April 1947 an American military tribunal at Nuremberg sentenced Milch to life imprisonment. The sentence was reduced to 15 years in 1951, and he was released in 1954. He died in 1972.
Collector’s Note
Milch documents connect the Luftwaffe with industry. I find them especially revealing when read alongside the forced labour records of the same years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did Milch become a field marshal?
On 19 July 1940.
Why was Milch convicted?
An American military tribunal convicted him in 1947 in connection with forced and slave labour.
When was Milch released?
In 1954.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Boog, H. (1994) ‘Milch, Erhard’, Neue Deutsche Biographie, 17, pp. 499–503.