The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Wehrmacht
Werner von Blomberg (1878–1946): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 2 September 1878, Stargard (Pomerania) |
|---|---|
| Died | 14 March 1946, Nuremberg (American military hospital) |
| Key offices | Reichswehr Minister (30 January 1933); War Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht (1935); Generalfeldmarschall (1936) |
| Documents bearing his name | Ministry papers, countersignatures on military appointments, orders 1933–38 |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
Werner von Blomberg brought the army into the Nazi state: he had the soldiers sworn to Hitler personally in August 1934 and led the Wehrmacht until a scandal over his marriage ended his career in 1938. His signature appears on military documents of the rearmament years, often as a countersignature.
Who Was Werner von Blomberg?
Blomberg was born in Stargard in 1878. On 30 January 1933 Hindenburg appointed him Reichswehr Minister. After Hindenburg’s death in August 1934 he ordered the soldiers to be sworn to Hitler’s person. In 1935 he became War Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht, and in 1936 he received the field marshal’s baton. His marriage in January 1938 led to a scandal, and on 4 February 1938 he resigned and was dismissed.
What Documents Bear Blomberg’s Signature?
His signature appears on ministry documents and as a countersignature on military appointments and orders between 1933 and early 1938. See original signature or facsimile and appointment certificates.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Official documents fall between January 1933 and February 1938.
- His title changes in 1935 from Reichswehr Minister to War Minister.
- Check countersignatures against the main signatory.
Fate
Blomberg was arrested by the Allies in 1945 and died on 14 March 1946 in an American military hospital in Nuremberg.
Collector’s Note
Blomberg’s change of title in 1935 is a neat dating tool. “Reichswehrminister” or “Reichskriegsminister” in the signature block tells you which side of the reorganisation you are on.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Blomberg War Minister?
From 1935 until February 1938; before that he was Reichswehr Minister from January 1933.
Why did Blomberg fall?
A scandal over his marriage in January 1938 led to his resignation on 4 February 1938.
What happened to Blomberg?
He died in an American military hospital in Nuremberg on 14 March 1946.
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
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Werner von Blomberg 1878–1946 (M. Wichmann; last updated 2014).